White Yarrow Achillea millefolium

LATIN NAME: ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM

COMMON NAME: White Yarrow

The white yarrow fans the flat, dense heads of the small, white flowers above the finely divided, feathery foliage through the summer, the whole plant carrying the crisp, meadow look of the old herbaceous plants. The flowers open in the broad, flat clusters, and they draw the bees, the butterflies, and the hoverflies. The plant spreads into the tidy clumps, and it stands the heat, the drought, and the poor soil well. It likes the sun, and the light, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The yarrows have a long, double record in the studies of the medicinal herbs and the wildflower meadows, and the white form appears in the research on the essential oils in the leaves and the drought tolerance. The chemists have studied the anti-inflammatory compounds, while the ecologists note the flat heads that feed the pollinators through the summer. The seed biology fills out the picture, and the growers of the meadow plants keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the sunny garden, the white yarrow keeps the meadow blooming. The flat, white heads draw the bees, the butterflies and the hoverflies through the summer, the feathery foliage carries the crisp, aromatic look, and the leaves have served the old remedies and the first-aid uses for the ages. It makes the fine dried flower and grows well in the light, well-drained bed without the fuss. Tough, generous and full of the old-herb character.

The white yarrow seeds germinate readily in a fine, gritty mix kept cool and moist. The seeds need the light to germinate, so press them into the surface without the covering. The seedlings break through within a couple of weeks, and they grow on steadily. Prick them out into the light, well-drained, sunny bed once they are big enough, and give them the full sun. The first flat white heads come within the first summer.

To grow the white yarrow from seed, sow the tiny, dry seeds barely over the surface of the shallow tray of fine, gritty mix, keep the tray in the bright, cool spot and mist gently. The seedlings shoot up within a couple of weeks, and they grow on steadily. Plant the young clumps in the sunny, well-drained ground, and the flat white heads will fan the meadow over the summer.

Yarrow has fragrant 2-4” flower heads made up of lots of smaller flowers for a wonderful look. It attracts bees, butterflies, and birds.

The most medicinally active variety. White flowers and feathery foliage. Proven mosquito repellent.