Red Yarrow

Description:

Achillea millefolium, known commonly as yarrow or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America. An erect herbaceous perennial plant that produces one to several stems 0.2–1 metre (0.66–3.28 ft) in height, and has a spreading rhizomatous growth form. Leaves are evenly distributed along the stem, with the leaves near the middle and bottom of the stem being the largest. The leaves have varying degrees of hairiness, 5–20 cm long, bipinnate or tripinnate, almost feathery, and arranged spirally on the stems.

Habitat:

Best grown in lean, dry to medium, well-drained sandy loams in full sun. Plants do well in average garden soils and tolerate poor soils as long as drainage is good. Plants also tolerate hot, humid summers and drought.

Notes:

Observed in the garden of an historic home Yarrow was known as herbal militaris, for its use in staunching the flow of blood from wounds.