White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

(Achillea millefolium 'White')

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White Yarrow is a native mat-forming perennial that can be commonly found growing along roadways and in fields and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, repels beetles, and flies, the leaves are burned to repel mosquitoes, is used as a compost activator, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetic cleansers, dye, essential oil, and liquid plant food, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!

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

Family: Asteraceae

Genus: Achillea

Species: millefolium

Variety: White Yarrow

Also Known As: Common Yarrow, Milfoil, Sneezewort, Soldier's Friend

Native to: Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Central European Rus, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Finland, Florida, France, Føroyar, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Louisiana, Magadan, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Nebraska, Netherlands, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Northwest Territorie, Norway, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tennessee, Texas, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Yukon.

Introduced into: Antipodean Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Azores, Baleares, Bolivia, Borneo, Botswana, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Chatham Is., Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Colombia, Corse, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Falkland Is., Free State, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Inner Mongolia, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Madeira, Malaya, Namibia, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Nicaragua, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Queensland, South Australia, South Georgia, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tasmania, Uruguay, Victoria, Vietnam, Western Australia, Xinjiang, Zimbabwe.

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: 12-18”

Spacing: 12-15"

Sow Depth: 1/8"

Produces: erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of white flowers.

USDA Grow Zone: 3a-9b

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.

Propagate new plants from old by by lifting and dividing the clump into smaller sections in spring; replant immediately.

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.

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.

Companion Planting

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.

Problems

Stem rot, powdery mildew and rust are occasional disease problems. Plant stems are weak and lodge easily. If grown ornamentally, plants can develop into a tangled mass of stems and foliage by mid to late summer if not cut back. Strong summer rain storms with high winds can easily flatten exposed plantings. May spread somewhat aggressively.

Suggested Varieties

(Ocimum basilicum 'Clove Scented')

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Clove Scented Basil is an annual herb that is native to India and Asia but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features clove-scented green leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is rabbit safe, repels flies, mosquitoes, and thrips, is resistant to deer, is used to make essential oils and mosquito repellent, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!

(Achillea millefolium 'White')

Harvesting

Storage

Culinary

Medicinal

Other Uses

Companion Planting

Problems

Suggested Varieties

(Ocimum basilicum 'Clove Scented')

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(Solanum lycopersicum 'Beefsteak')

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(Solanum lycopersicum 'Sweetie Cherry')

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(Lavandula angustifolia ‘Vera')