Yarrow

Halq’emeylem Name

Xaweqál

Latin Name

Achillea millefolium L.

About Yarrow

Achillea millefolium, commonly called common yarrow, is a rhizomatous, spreading, upright to mat-forming perennial that is considered by many to be an aggressive weed. Common yarrow from Europe and Asia was originally introduced to America in colonial times, and has since naturalized throughout the U. S. primarily along roadsides, fields, waste areas and lawns. These species plants are noted for producing deeply-dissected, fern-like, aromatic, medium green foliage and tiny, long-lasting, white flowers that appear in dense, flattened, compound corymbs (to 2-4” across) throughout the summer on stems typically rising 2-3’ tall. Foliage has a strong, somewhat spicy aroma that persists when used in dried arrangements. Species plants are uncommonly sold in commerce, however. It is the cultivars and hybrids of common yarrow, most of which have stronger stems, more upright habits and larger flowers, that have become popular flowering plants for ornamental gardens. Cultivars also extend the range of flower colors to include pinks, reds, creams, yellows and bicolor pastels.

The genus name Achillea refers to Achilles, hero of the Trojan Wars in Greek mythology, who used the plant medicinally to stop bleeding and to heal the wounds of his soldiers.

The specific epithet millefolium means “thousand-leaved” in reference to the highly dissected foliage.

Common yarrow has a large number of additional common names, including milfoil, thousandleaf, soldier’s woundwort, bloodwort, nose bleed, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, old-man’s-pepper and stenchgrass.” (MBG)

Connections

Shakespeare

Coming soon.

Indigenous Knowledge

For many medicinal uses, see Íhtelstexw Te Shxwelí:  Feeding the Soul, https://stolofoodways.com.  The name means “Carrot-like” (https://stolofoodways.com).

Gallery

References

Images: Andreas Rockstein

Integrated Taxonomic Information System. (n.d.). Achillea millefolium  L. Retrieved from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35423#null

Halq’emeylem name from Íhtelstexw Te Shxwelí:  Feeding the Soul, https://stolofoodways.com

Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Achillea millefolium. Retrieved from
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b282