Yarrow
Yarrow brightens our grasslands and forests with its fragrant colorful bouquets.
Scientific Name: Achillea millefoliumCommon Name: Milenrama, milfoil, western yarrow, thousandleaf, soldier’s woundwort, bloodwort, nose bleed, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, old-man’s-pepper, stenchgrassPlant Family: Asteraceae
Etymology: The genus Achillea was named after Achilles, who used the extracts of plants to treat the wounds of soldiers in the battle of Troy. The name milfoil comes from its Latin name “millefolium” meaning “a thousand leaves.”
Traditional Uses
Various tribes in North America used it for many ailments. For example, the crushed plant was applied to wounds and burns, the dried leaves were used as a tea to soothe headaches, fever, and colds. Since the Middle Ages, yarrow beer has been pressed in Europe. Additionally, the Chinese considered yarrow to be good luck. Centuries ago, Yarrow was used as a charm against bad luck and illness. Although it was also used to stop wounds from bleeding, it was believed to cause nosebleeds if put up the nose. Lastly, Lewis and Clark collected it during the Expedition while they camped near Kamiah, Idaho in May 1806.
Medicinal Uses
It is a gas-relieving herb used in traditional medicine to treat colic and is generally given as decoctions or teas. It is a diaphoretic herb used for sore throat relief. It is an anti-inflammatory herb historically recommended by doctors for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is a digestive stimulant widely used in traditional medicine in North America. Furthermore, traditional herbal medicine in Europe, China, and India has used it to treat inflammation in many conditions, especially in the intestinal and female reproductive tracts. Based on anecdotal evidence, yarrow tea may be beneficial when the main symptom of PMS is spastic pain.
Edible Parts
Yarrow has a strong licorice-like scent and a mildly sweet flavor that’s similar to tarragon. This entire plant is edible, but its leaves and flowers are especially popular to use in recipes.
Gathering and Using
Cultivated varieties of red, pink, gold, yellow, and white flowers are staples in home gardens around the world. Usually considered too weedy for borders but can be used as a ground cover. In addition, its leaves and flowers can be dried and used as a spice. But, fresh flowers and leaves are also great for salads, soups, and stews. Yarrow complements vegetables and fruits well. Add yarrow in your vinaigrette to make a nice salad dressing. You can also add it to sorbets, fruit salads, and even yogurt topped with fresh fruits. Yarrow is a soft herb which means that high heat will destroy its flavor. For a nice and strong flavor, only add this herb to the end of the cooking process. Also, you might want to use it sparingly so its strong taste and scent don’t overpower your dish.
Permaculture Functions and Considerations
It grows well with other plants and is said to increase the aromatic aspects of herbs growing nearby. Yarrow attracts ladybugs and predatory wasps, both of which can help keep other insects in the garden in check. Yarrow also repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants and some species of beetles and flies.
Habitat
It can be found along roadsides, fields, waste areas and lawns and is found in many plant communities such as those in coastal bluffs, sand dunes, salt marches, grasslands, semi-deserts, and alpine areas.
How to Identify
It has a dome-shaped or flat-topped clusters of small white flowers. Foliage has a strong, somewhat spicy aroma that persists when used in dried arrangements. It’s feathery-cut, aromatic, fine, leaves give it a fern-like, soft look. Also contributing to its fern-like look is that the leaves are alter nature, 3-5 inches long, with many leaflets on each side of the midrib; and these are further divided into smaller leaflets Lastly, it has a circumboreal distribution.
Wildlife Support
It has been used to help restore arable land to grassland by sowing it along with other natives.
Additional Information
Stem rot, powdery mildew and rust are occasional disease problems.
Planting Considerations
If grown ornamentally, plants are best sited in locations protected from strong winds. It’s stems tend to flop in hot and humid climates and/or in rich and moist soils. Consider cutting back plant stems in late spring before flowering to reduce overall plant height. Cutting plants back to lateral flower buds after initial flowering will tidy the planting and encourage additional bloom. Plants may also be cut back to basal foliage after bloom. Divide clumps as needed (every 2-3 years) to maintain vitality of the planting. Plants spread aggressively by rhizomes and self-seeding, and can naturalize into substantial colonies if left unchecked.