Achillea millefolium, Common Yarrow

Common Yarrow, Yarrow, Western Yarrow

Achillea millefolium is a herbaceous perennial blooming in June through September and grows up to three feet tall and spreads to five feet wide.  An easy to grow plant that is great in full sun to shade.  Yarrow spreads by rhizomes.  This plant produces a pollen that can produce an allergic reaction.  This can be grown as a lawn substitute and mowed occasionally.

Yarrow has deep roots that mine the subsoil for potassium, calcium, copper, phosphorus and magnesium, which makes this plant a nutrient rich mulch.  

Known as herbal militaris, for its use in stoping the flow of blood from wounds.  Native Americans had many uses for the plant, including pain relief, fever reduction, and blood issues of all kinds.  You can also use this to calm and heal rashes, bug bites, bee stings, cuts, and burns.  

You can dry the flowers and use them as confetti in batter.

A really great native to attract insects like hoverflies.  Hoverfly larvae eat aphids as their primary food source, they are so tiny that the naked eye cannot see them underneath leaves.  Adult hoverflies pollinate plants and feed mainly on nectar.

- Plant in full sun, part shade or full shade 

- Plants do well in sandy or clay soils and tolerate poor soils as long as drainage is good

- Max water once a week once established 

- Great companion plant under evergreen oaks

- Drought tolerant

- Attracts butterflies, birds, and bees

- Easy to grow

- Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North America