Yarrow: Red (Achillea millefolium rubra)

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Native to Southern Europe, yarrow has been a traditional part of herb gardens for hundreds of years because of its fragrant foliage and cheerful, long lasting flowers. Yarrow can often be found in fields, along roads, or on rocky hillsides. Linnaeus named it for Greek general Achilles, who according to legend received yarrow as a gift from the gods; the general’s soldiers used yarrow to stanch the flow of their blood in the battlefields of the Trojan War. In the early days of the American prairies, Native American tribes such as the Pawnee, Cherokee, and Chippewa used common yarrow to relieve pain and headaches, reduce fever, and induce sleep. When taken internally as a tea, yarrow purifies the system and has anti-inflammatory benefits. Cosmetic preparations sometimes include yarrow because of its cleansing, refreshing effect. Medicinal use of yarrow is not recommended for expectant mothers.

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General Information
Soil Preparation
Germination
Seedlings
Crop Care
Harvesting & Storage
Seed Saving
Culinary & Medicinal
Companion Planting

Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium rubra

Native Range: Europe, western Asia, North America

Ease of Growing: Moderate

Grown As: Perennial

Maturity (Bloom): June to September

Hardiness: Tender. Yarrow is tender and will not tolerate any frost.

Suitability: Yarrow tolerates hot, humid summers and drought.

Light: Full Sun.

Water: Dry to medium.

Soil Moisture: Dry to medium. Well-drained. Yarrow will not tolerate wet soil.

Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts bees, butterflies, ladybugs, as well as resisting deer.

Containers: Yes

Maintenance: Medium

Height: 12-24”

Spacing: 18-24"

Sow Depth: 1/8"

Produces: neat, bushy clumps of medium green fern-like foliage, and 4” clusters of red flowers.

USDA Grow Zone: 2a-10b

Garden Uses: Cottage gardens, wild gardens, meadows, prairies and naturalized areas. Good fresh cut or dried flower.

Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 6.0-7.3, Ideal 6.5-7.0. Yarrow prefers a light, sandy soil that drains well.

Soil Preparation:
Compost (Nitrogen), 2", in top 6" of soil, 1 time: Apply 2" of compost as a mulch to help suppress weeds and provide nutrients.

Direct sow the seed in fall or early spring; fall planted seed will remain dormant until spring. To start the seeds indoors, plant them just below the surface of the soil since they need light to germinate. Keep the soil temperature at 65-75 degrees F, but out of the hottest rays of sunlight. When the seedlings grow big enough to handle safely and there is no chance of frost, plant them 18-24” apart. Yarrow grows best in full sun and sandy or well drained soil, though it tolerates drought conditions.

While the young plants should be watered to help them establish a deep root system, too much watering of mature plants can cause stem and root rot or mildew. Since yarrow tends to flop over in fertile soil or shade, staking may be needed; this also protects the plant’s fragile stems in high winds. Deadhead the wilted blossoms often for continued blooming. After the plant has finished blooming, cut the plant down to its lower leaves for healthy spring growth. When the plant becomes 3-4 years old, it will benefit from being dug up and divided in the early spring or fall. Because yarrow can become invasive through the spread of roots and its reseeding habit, care should be taken to control the spread of the plant. This can be done by putting a barrier underground surrounding the plant’s roots, or by growing the plant in large container. This plant attracts butterflies and beneficial insects as well as repelling deer and rabbits, and grows well in borders or large containers. As a companion plant with herbs, it increases their fragrance, flavor, and essential oils.

Remember to add a thin layer of compost, followed by a 2–inch layer of mulch around your plants each spring.

If you receive less than 1 inch of rain a week in the summer, remember to water your plants regularly.

Divide yarrow plants every 3 to 5 years. Lift the clumps of flowers in early spring or fall and remove any dead stems from the center of the clump. You can replant the divisions in well-prepared soil.

If you plant yarrow from tip cuttings, plant them in spring or early summer.

Harvesting

Gather leaves and flowers as soon as they mature. Harvest the whole stem as soon as it begins to bloom; bundle the stems and hang them upside down to dry away from direct sunlight. Yarrow blossoms make good cut flowers, and when dried they hold their color well. Keep in mind that if the flowers have been open for more than a day, they will go to seed as they dry. Individual blossoms or leaves can also be harvested and spread out to dry in a protected location.

Storage

To store yarrow properly, it must be dried carefully to avoid mildew. As with most herbs, the entire aerial plant (excluding the roots) can be cut and bundled, before hanging upside down to dry. This is an easy way to get a large quantity of plant material. You can also pick flowers and leaves directly off the stems, and lay them out to dry. My favorite method is still to harvest the flowers individually and have a newspaper in

The dried material is lightweight, so drafts should be avoided. Yarrow also seems to fade quickly if left in sunlight, so be certain to keep it in a dark container or in an out of the way place.

Plants spread aggressively by rhizomes and self-seeding, and can naturalize into substantial colonies if left unchecked.

Allow the flower heads to mature and begin to dry; the stem will start to turn brown. Remove the heads and spread them out to dry out of direct sunlight, then rub them lightly to release the seeds. Store the seed in a cool, dark place.

Culinary

Leaves: raw or cooked. A rather bitter flavor, they make an acceptable addition to mixed salads and are best used when young. The leaves are also used as a hop-substitute for flavoring and as a preservative for beer etc. Although in general yarrow is a very nutritious and beneficial plant to add to the diet, some caution should be exercised. An aromatic tea is made from the flowers and leaves. An essential oil from the flowering heads is used as a flavoring for soft drinks.

Medicinal

Yarrow has a high reputation and is widely employed in herbal medicine, administered both internally and externally. It is used in the treatment of a very wide range of disorders but is particularly valuable for treating wounds, stopping the flow of blood, treating colds, fevers, kidney diseases, menstrual pain etc. The whole plant is used, both fresh and dried, and is best harvested when in flower. Some caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since large or frequent doses taken over a long period may be potentially harmful, causing allergic rashes and making the skin more sensitive to sunlight. The herb combines well with Sambucus nigra flowers (Elder) and Mentha x piperita vulgaris (Peppermint) for treating colds and influenza. The herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, mildly aromatic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, odontalgic, stimulant, bitter tonic, vasodilator and vulnerary. It also contains the anti-inflammatory agent azulene, though the content of this varies even between plants in the same habitat. The herb is harvested in the summer when in flower and can be dried for later use. The fresh leaf can be applied direct to an aching tooth in order to relieve the pain.

Source

Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Other Uses

The growing plant repels beetles, ants and flies. The plant has been burnt in order to ward off mosquitoes. A liquid plant feed can be made from the leaves. You fill a container with the leaves and then add some water. Leave it to soak for a week or two and then dilute the rather smelly dark liquid, perhaps 10 - 1 with water though this figure is not crucial. This plant is an essential ingredient of "Quick Return" herbal compost activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost. The fragrant seeds have been used to impart a pleasant smell indoors. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used medicinally. The leaves contain from 0.6 to 0.85% essential oil. The leaves have been used as a cosmetic cleanser for greasy skin. Yellow and green dyes are obtained from the flowers. A good ground cover plant, spreading quickly by its roots.

Yarrow has insect repelling qualities and is an excellent natural fertilizer. Yarrow is a great companion plant for many vegetable and fruit plants because it attracts pollinating bees and beneficial aphid-eating insects into the garden. Plant close to brassicas, tomatoes, melons, aubergine, beans, spinach. Yarrow is also beneficial to aromatic herbs like lavender, basil, rosemary, thyme and oregano. A handful of yarrow leaves added to the compost pile really speeds things up. Try it! It also attracts predatory wasps and ladybugs to name just two. It may increase the essential oil content of herbs when planted among them.

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Native to India and ancient Persia, basil has a long history as one of the most revered of herbs. Ancient legends give basil a strong religious connection, stating that it possesses healing powers. In many cultures basil is a symbol of love, and given as a token of affection or engagement; other meanings include protection and truth. In Greek and Roman cultures, however, basil represented hate and misfortune; because of this, gardeners would often shout abuses at their plants to help them grow. It seems that no one could agree on the properties of basil, with divided opinions on whether it had medical benefits or whether it contained poison. Since English royalty preferred basil and used it for both culinary and cosmetic purposes, chefs sometimes call it "the king of herbs." In addition to being popular with the ruling class, basil was commonly used throughout England and loved for its scent; many people included it in their gardens, added it to their bouquets, and used it to freshen the air in their houses. Medicinally, oil of basil is often used in treatments as diverse as depression and anxiety, the common cold, a cough or sore throat, or insect bites and stings. Medicinal doses of basil are unsafe for pregnant women, though culinary use is fine.