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Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Forb/herb
U.S. Nativity	Native and Introduced to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	UPL, FACU
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Moderate
Bloat	Low
C:N Ratio	Medium
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	White
Flower Conspicuous	Yes
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	3
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	No
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	Slight
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	High
Frost Free Days, Minimum	120
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	6
pH, Maximum	8
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum	4800
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum	19000
Precipitation, Minimum	8
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	8
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Intermediate
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-38
Reproduction
Bloom Period	Early Summer
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Medium
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	Yes
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	Yes
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	2852012
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	Low
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Slow
Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	Yes
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Low
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

 

Kingdom  Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom  Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision  Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division  Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class  Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons

Subclass  Asteridae

Order  Asterales

Family  Asteraceae -- Aster family

Genus  Achillea L. -- yarrow P

Species  Achillea millefolium L. -- common yarrow P

Caution: This plant may become invasive.

Alternate Names

Milfoil

 

Uses

Ethnobotanic: Several tribes of the Plains region of the United States including the Pawnee and Chippewa tribes used common yarrow.  The Pawnee used the stalk in a treatment for pain relief.  The Chippewa used the leaves in a steam inhalant for headaches.  They also chewed the roots and applied the saliva to their appendages as a stimulant.  The Cherokee drank a tea of common yarrow to reduce fever and aid in restful sleep.

 

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

 

Weediness

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use.  Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

 

Description

General: Sunflower Family (Asteraceae).  Common yarrow is a perennial herb that produces one to several stems (2-10 dm tall) from a fibrous underground horizontal rootstock (rhizome).  It is known to be both native and introduced.  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 (pubescence).  Leaf blades are lanceolate in outline, but bipinnately dissected.  Overall leaf dimensions range from 0.5-3 cm wide by 3-15 cm long.  The flower heads (inflorescence) have a flattened dome shape corymbiform (2.5-4 mm thick by 4-5 mm high) with approximately 10-20 ray flowers.  The flowers are whitish to yellowish-white.  The plant commonly persists from May through June.

 

Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

 

Habitat: The plant is frequently found in the mildly disturbed soil of grasslands and open forests.

 

Establishment

Common yarrow is a drought tolerant species of which there are several different ornamental cultivars.  Plant the seeds no more than ¼ inch deep due to the need of light for germination.  The seeds also require a temperature range of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.  Common yarrow responds best to soil that is poorly developed and well drained.  The plant has a relatively short life.  To prolong the life of the plant, divide the plant every other year and plant 12-18 inches apart.  Common yarrow is a weedy species and can become invasive.  Proper care should be used to control the spread of the plant from its desired growing location.

 

Pests and Potential Problems

Common yarrow may suffer from mildew or root rot if not planted in well-drained soil.

 

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

These materials are readily available from commercial plant sources.

 

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely.  Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information.  USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

 

References

Beaurain. B. 2001. The garden helper.

www.thegardenhelper.com/Achillea.htm

 

Correl, D.S. & M.C. Johnston 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation, Renner, Texas. 1881 pp.

 

Densmore, F. 1974. How indians use wild plants for food, medicine, and crafts. Dover Publications Inc., New York, New York. 397pp.

 

Dunbar, J.D. 1880. The Pawnee indians. Magazine of American History 5(5):321-342.

 

Great Plains Flora Association 1986. Flora of the great plains. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 1392 pp.

 

Hamel, P.B. & M.U. Chiltoskey 1975. Cherokee plants their uses-a 400 year history. Herald Publishing Company, Sylva, North Carolina. 65 pp.

 

Kindscher, K. 1992. Medicinal wild plants of the prairie. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 340 pp.

 

Maas Nursery. 2001.  Herbs.  Seabrook, Texas.  <www.maasnursery.com/yarrow.htm>.  Accessed 20NOV01.

 

Moerman, D.E. 1998. Native American ethnobotany. Timber press, Portland, Oregon. 927 pp.

 

Moerman, D.E. 1999. Native American ethnobotany database: Foods, drugs, dyes and fibers of native North American peoples.  The University of Michigan-Dearborn.  <https://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb>.

 

Sanders, T.W. 1895. Sanders’ encyclopedia of gardening. A.G.L. Hellyer 1958. Revised. W.H. and L. Collingridge Limited. New York, New York. 526 pp.

 

Zhang, D., A.M. Armitage, J.M. Affolter, M.A. Dirr 1996. Environmental control of flowering and growth of Achillea millefolium L. “summer pastels”. HortScience 31(3):364-365.

 

Prepared By:

Matthew D. Hurteau, Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, c/o, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of California, Davis, California

 

Species Coordinator:

M. Kat Anderson

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Science Department, University of California, Davis, California

Edited: 20nov01 jsp; 04jun03 ahv; 30may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

 

 

 

 

Attribution:  U.S. Department of Agriculture