Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

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Photo taken by Calvin De Jong

Description

Height 20-80 cm

Width 4-30 cm

Leaves 5-20 cm long, 10-25 mm wide

Flowers 1- 80 mm

Yarrow is a flowering herbaceous plant with white flowers rarely one can find pink flowers as well. The whole plant is very aromatic with blue-green leaves resembling ferns. They grow from spreading rhizomes as well as seedlings from the flowers.

Distribution and habitat

Yarrow can be found growing throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Yarrow tends to grow in open dry grasslands, meadows, gullies, ravines, and around old buildings and roadways. You can find yarrow growing in a wide range of soil conditions as the roots are very adaptable.

Elevation 0-3,500 m

Soil sandy soil, well-drained, poor nutrient soils

PH 5.5-7

Zones 3-9

Uses & Benefits

Yarrow has been used as far back as the Trojan War around 1200 BC. It was widely used to stop bleeding during the time of war. Today yarrow is more known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties to treat minor cuts and burns. It is well known that chewing on yarrow leaves can alleviate a toothache.

Parts used :

Flowers
leaves

One can also use yarrow to:

Induce sweating
Stop bleeding
Relive pain
Improve circulation
Lower high blood pressure
Tone varicose veins

Ways to use yarrow:

Teas
Poultice
Shampoo
Salve
Snuff

Calvin De Jong

Content Writer/Photographer

I am a naturalist from the Okanagan. My passions are taken photos of nature and foraging all its wonders.