FNPS Plant Database

Achillea millefolium

common yarrow

  • ©Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter

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Nomenclature

Common Name:

common yarrow

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Achillea millefolium

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

to 3 ft tall by to 1 ft wide

Life Span:

short-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Informal plantings, especially butterfly gardens. Useful for erosion control.

Considerations:

In Florida, basal leaves are typically visible during the winter.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Clumps of roots can be divided.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

|----|----|---- <------------------------>

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Short very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH:

Broadly tolerant

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds
Several cavity-nesting birds use yarrow to line their nests. Adding yarrow to nests may inhibit the growth of parasites. Some small birds eat the seeds.
Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators, Caterpillars

Attracts butterflies, bees, and other insect pollinators. Larval host for Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui).

Native Habitats:

Ruderal

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Once used as a food; very popular as a vegetable in the seventeenth century. The younger leaves are said to be a pleasant leaf vegetable when cooked as spinach, or in a soup. Leaves can also be dried and used as an herb in cooking.

General Comments:

Can be grown as a groundcover. This is a species on the southern limits of its range in North Florida. Its known occurrence (ISB 2020) is sparse in FLorida.

Citations:

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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