Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a hardy herbaceous perennial belonging to the Asteraceae family. It has many common names including common yarrow, millefoil, sneezewort, bloodwort, carpenter's weed, staunchweed, soldier's woundwort, thousand leaf and millefoil.
Yarrow, with its fern-like leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers (called a corymb), is native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere including the British Isles. It is found in lawns, grassland areas, meadows, pasture, banks and hedgerows. It has been used in herbal medicine for thousands of years and is a very valuable plant. This is one you just have to add to your garden.
Plants can be propagated by seed, cuttings or division. Sow the seed in spring or autumn. Seed will typically germinate within 3 months. When seedlings are large enough pot them on to a larger container and plant out during the summer. To take cuttings, place 8 cm softwood cuttings in pots in a propagator or cold frame in the spring, keeping cuttings warm and out of direct sunlight. Rooting should take place within a few weeks. Place rooted plants in their final position in the summer. Division can be carried out on mature clumps during the spring or autumn. Water the plant first to enable easy removal. Use a fork and tease the roots apart.
White or pink flowers appear from June to October. Plants grow to around 60-70 cm in height. Yarrow is pollinated by insects and is known for attracting wildlife including butterflies and bees. It is ideal for a cottage garden or a wild flower border. Wherever you grow it, it will probably do well. It will grow in full sun or semi-shade but prefers dry or moist soil. It will tolerate drought and maritime exposure. It is great for ground cover since it grows vigorously and spreads quickly. It can also be grown in pots. There are all sorts of recommendations regarding tending to the plant, such as cutting it down in the autumn before they set seed, dividing the clumps every few years, but we like to just leave it to do its own thing. Yarrow is generally problem-free with regards pests and diseases. Some would call it invasive. We would never think of doing this!
Yarrow is highly beneficial to health and has been widely used in herbal medicine for thousands of years, internally and externally, and for a wide range of disorders. For home use, the leaves can easily be made into a tea, along with elder flowers (Sambucus niger) and peppermint leaves (Mentha x piperita vulgaris), and used as a remedy for colds and flu. The leaves can be used instead of hops to flavour and preserve alcohol such as beer. Yarrow can be used to make a liquid plant feed and is an ingredient of the Quick Return herbal compost activator, used to promote bacterial activity, and commonly used in compost heaps. It is also useful plant for erosion control due to the well developed but shallow root system and will improve soil fertility. A green and yellow dye can be made from the flowers.
There is a warning about using this plant continually for long periods of time. It may cause an allergic reaction or photosensitivity in some people. Always check with a qualified herbalist if using for medicinal purposes to be on the safe side.
The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. However, cooking yarrow does impart a bitterness to the food. Even though they are a little bitter, the leaves can be added to salads in small amounts which is one of our favourite ways of using it. A herbal tea can be made from the flowers and leaves which is the second one of our favourite ways of using it! We often mix it with elder flowers, nettle and mint for a refreshing brew. An essential oil can be obtained from the flowers. Yarrow can be dried when the plant is almost, but not quite, in flower and saved for later use.
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| Yarrow flowers (Achillea millefolium) by Alberto Salguero |
Yarrow, with its fern-like leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers (called a corymb), is native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere including the British Isles. It is found in lawns, grassland areas, meadows, pasture, banks and hedgerows. It has been used in herbal medicine for thousands of years and is a very valuable plant. This is one you just have to add to your garden.
Growing methods
Plants can be propagated by seed, cuttings or division. Sow the seed in spring or autumn. Seed will typically germinate within 3 months. When seedlings are large enough pot them on to a larger container and plant out during the summer. To take cuttings, place 8 cm softwood cuttings in pots in a propagator or cold frame in the spring, keeping cuttings warm and out of direct sunlight. Rooting should take place within a few weeks. Place rooted plants in their final position in the summer. Division can be carried out on mature clumps during the spring or autumn. Water the plant first to enable easy removal. Use a fork and tease the roots apart.
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| Soft fern-like young yarrow leaves |
White or pink flowers appear from June to October. Plants grow to around 60-70 cm in height. Yarrow is pollinated by insects and is known for attracting wildlife including butterflies and bees. It is ideal for a cottage garden or a wild flower border. Wherever you grow it, it will probably do well. It will grow in full sun or semi-shade but prefers dry or moist soil. It will tolerate drought and maritime exposure. It is great for ground cover since it grows vigorously and spreads quickly. It can also be grown in pots. There are all sorts of recommendations regarding tending to the plant, such as cutting it down in the autumn before they set seed, dividing the clumps every few years, but we like to just leave it to do its own thing. Yarrow is generally problem-free with regards pests and diseases. Some would call it invasive. We would never think of doing this!
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| Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885 |
Other uses
Yarrow is highly beneficial to health and has been widely used in herbal medicine for thousands of years, internally and externally, and for a wide range of disorders. For home use, the leaves can easily be made into a tea, along with elder flowers (Sambucus niger) and peppermint leaves (Mentha x piperita vulgaris), and used as a remedy for colds and flu. The leaves can be used instead of hops to flavour and preserve alcohol such as beer. Yarrow can be used to make a liquid plant feed and is an ingredient of the Quick Return herbal compost activator, used to promote bacterial activity, and commonly used in compost heaps. It is also useful plant for erosion control due to the well developed but shallow root system and will improve soil fertility. A green and yellow dye can be made from the flowers.
Issues
There is a warning about using this plant continually for long periods of time. It may cause an allergic reaction or photosensitivity in some people. Always check with a qualified herbalist if using for medicinal purposes to be on the safe side.
Raw edible parts
The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. However, cooking yarrow does impart a bitterness to the food. Even though they are a little bitter, the leaves can be added to salads in small amounts which is one of our favourite ways of using it. A herbal tea can be made from the flowers and leaves which is the second one of our favourite ways of using it! We often mix it with elder flowers, nettle and mint for a refreshing brew. An essential oil can be obtained from the flowers. Yarrow can be dried when the plant is almost, but not quite, in flower and saved for later use.
