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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a beautiful flowering plant grown in the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate regions. It is known by many other names such as plumajillo, meaning “little feather” due to its feather-like leaves, old man’s pepper, thousand-leaf, devil’s nettle and nosebleed plant. It is not just a thing of beauty because the yarrow has many medicinal and herbal uses. The flowers of the yarrow have 4 to 9 phyllaries with ray and disk flowers ranging in colors from pristine white to flirty pink with most having yellow centers. The ray flowers, which can be anywhere from 3 to 8, can be ovate or round depending on the genotype while the disk flowers are in the 15-40 range. These flowers are grouped into a flat-topped cluster similar to a small bouquet. The yarrow has a strong and sweet – almost cloyingly sweet, to a few people – scent with a similar profile as chrysanthemums. It is for this reason that the plant is a staple in butterfly gardens, not to mention that it adds a dainty look to the landscape. When May comes around and well into June, the flowers bloom like small yet pretty bouquets rising up from the delicate feather-like leaves. This is a versatile plant because it can grow at both low and high altitudes of up to 3500 meters above sea level. The spring season sees the most active growth but it can grow just about any time of the year. Its most common breeding grounds are in open forests and grasslands with most gardeners also taking a liking for the dainty yet hardy plant. The leaves are as dainty as the flowers, too. These are evenly distributed along the stems in a feather-like formation such that the leaves nearest the bottom of the stem are the largest. These are also more or less clasping in formation. Hairiness in the leaves is variable. Yarrow plants grow best in well-drained soil with full sun. Seeds must then be planted less than 6 millimeters deep to encourage full germination while the ideal temperatures are between 18°C and 24°C. Seeds should be spaced 12 to 18 inches apart for proper growth but keep in mind that the plant can become invasive so moderation is the key here. Choices in yarrow cultivars include Kelwayi, Lansdorferglut, Paprika, cerise Queen and Red beauty, to name a few. Most of these yarrow cultivars are used in several applications including combating soil erosion, repelling pests like insects in companion planting, and treating wounds, cuts and abrasions. Find out more of Native Plant of Oregon and the species available in the state by visiting http://www.schollsvalley.com/.
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