Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Table of Contents
Plant family: Asteraceae
Aliases: Milfoil, devil’s nettle, nosebleed
Flowering period: June – October
Flower colour: White – pale pink
Preferred soil type: Most types, low fertility
Habitat: Grassland, waste areas, lawns
Status: Common
General information
A native, herbaceous, late-flowering, perennial wildflower, very common in grassy places such as meadows, roadside verges and garden lawns. It’s considered a troublesome weed in turf, as it can easily withstand close mowing and is very tolerant to most herbicides, which makes it difficult to eradicate.
When left to its own devices it will grow to around 60cm in height, and although it will grow in most types of soil, it prefers lighter, sandy soil, especially those suffering from a lack of nutrition. yarrow spreads via underground runners known as ‘rhizomes’ and has an extensive root system, enabling it to tolerate very dry – droughty conditions.
Identification
Flowers: Yarrow produces tiny flowers, that are borne in dense cluster’s (inflorescences), consisting of outer ray florets and inner disc florets. Flower heads measure between 4 – 7 mm in diameter and are white to pale pink in colour.
Leaves: The leaves are borne evenly from the stem, the lower and central leaves are the longest, measuring up tp 15 cm long. They are lanceolate in outline, but highly divided, giving a feathery appearance. When rubbed or crushed between fingers they give off a pleasant, fragrant smell, not dissimilar to chrysanthemum. The smell given off by the flowers might be pleasant to humans and pollinators but it seems to repel many garden pests.
Value for wildlife
Although the flowers are tiny, yarrow is one of the most nectar rich wildflowers and attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies and various birds.
Uses for yarrow
Yarrow is an edible herb and the leaves have been used as salad greens and leafy vegetables, although they have a bitter, peppery taste to them. They can also be used as an ingredient in soups and sauces. The flowers have been used used in salads or ground together with the leaves to make a spice.
Yarrow has medicinal properties and has been used for staunching blood flow from flesh wounds and skin abrasions. It was also used for easing toothache, alleviating colds and flu symptoms and treating blood pressure.
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