Achillea millefolium, commonly known as Yarrow, is a resilient plant with a long history of human use. Its botanical name references the Greek hero Achilles, who is fabled to have used the plant to treat his soldiers’ wounds, earning it the historical moniker herba militaris or soldier’s woundwort. This hardy species is easily found and identified, making it popular for foragers and gardeners alike.
Natural Habitats and Geographic Distribution
Yarrow has a circumboreal distribution, found throughout the northern temperate zone, with a native range encompassing Eurasia and North America. This resilient plant has successfully naturalized across much of the world, appearing in nearly every state in the United States and province in Canada. It demonstrates adaptability, growing from sea level up to elevations of 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).
The herb prefers sunny locations and is often found in environments with disturbed soil. Look for Yarrow along roadsides, in dry fields, open forests, pastures, and meadows. It tolerates poor soil quality and drought conditions, and is frequently encountered in grasslands and waste grounds.
Identifying Yarrow and Dangerous Look-alikes
Identifying Yarrow begins with its distinctive foliage, which gives the plant its species name, millefolium, meaning “thousand-leaf.” Its leaves are finely dissected and feathery, appearing soft and fern-like, especially when young. The stem is typically green, grooved, and covered in fine, woolly hairs, which is a distinguishing feature from its poisonous look-alikes.
The small flowers are usually white in the wild, sometimes appearing light pink, and are tightly packed into characteristic flat-topped clusters called corymbs. When crushed, the leaves and flowers release a unique, pungent, and herbaceous scent.
Foragers must exercise caution, as Yarrow can be confused with highly toxic plants, such as Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). The most reliable way to differentiate Yarrow from Poison Hemlock is by examining the stem, as the latter has a smooth, hollow stem marked with purple blotches or spots.
Furthermore, Poison Hemlock has a distinctly unpleasant, mouse-like odor, unlike Yarrow’s aromatic smell. The flowers of Poison Hemlock form a true umbel, where all the flower stems originate from a single point, a structure different from Yarrow’s corymb.
Cultivating and Sourcing Yarrow
For those who prefer not to forage, Yarrow is readily available through cultivation or commercial sources. It can be easily grown in a home garden, thriving in full sun and well-drained, average to poor soil.
The plant can be started from seed, which requires light for germination and often benefits from a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. Established plants are easily propagated by dividing the root clumps every three to five years, a practice that maintains plant vigor.
You can purchase live plants or seeds from local nurseries and garden centers, where various colored cultivars are often sold. Dried Yarrow leaf and flower material can also be sourced from reputable apothecaries or herbal suppliers for use in teas and infusions.