Description
Wait! Before you go zipping by this plant that we see all the time, spend just a moment here. Every plant has a story and this one is more rich than I ever new, until recently (thanks Park!).
Common yarrow lives up to it’s name-it’s pretty darn common. If it’s not in our yards, it’s just down the road. What’s not so common about this plant is its medicinal uses and the length of time (thousands of years, “since antiquity”) humans have been using it. It has a treasure trove of complex phytochemicals, which account for its medicinal prowess.
It’s taxonomical lineage is not always clear; because this plant of great utility and beauty has been spread the world over (thusly, it is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution). To recognize this fact, many naturally occurring varieties have been identified and named, So, even though this is a native plant to North America, the ones you have growing by you could very well be a non-native variety. (Confused yet?). Wildflower.org sums it up best; “In North America, A. millefolium is a complex of both native and introduced plants and their hybrids.” This situation is quite common with wide ranging plants, that dreaded wetland invader, Phragmites, falls into a similar category. So do Cranberry viburnum, and that ubiquitous land scape plant, bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa).
Common yarrow is easy to please, give it a sunny spot, with loamy soil, and it will lovingly grow for as long as it’s allowed. The specific epithet millefolium describes the delicate lacy leaves that are finely divided. Even when not in flower, the foliage is enough to admire. Thus plant has been recognized as a noteworthy companion plant-repelling rascally critters, while attracting pollinators. How could you go wrong?
Plants in 2-3 gallon pots size for $16 (Organically grown)
