With its long history of medicinal use, I find yarrow to be one of the most incredible and fascinating common garden plants.
An herbaceous perennial and member of the aster family, it is distinguished by its feathery leaves and flowers that bloom in densely arranged clusters.
The plant grows to a few feet tall at maturity, spreading by rhizomes to create lovely flowering patches in gardens or fields. And it also smells fabulous!
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There are multiple species in the Achillea genus, some wild natives, and several stunning ornamental cultivars featuring a wide range of colors including pale pink, purple, red, white, and yellow.
Boasting a long list of cultural, medicinal, and garden uses, this versatile herb is truly an incredible plant.
Here’s what to come in this article:
Cultivation and History: A Rich and Magical PastYarrow has been intertwined with humans for a very long time.
Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia, this magical herb has been used medicinally for thousands of years in many cultures around the world.
The Latin name Achillea comes from the mythical Greek warrior Achilles, who was said to have used this plant to heal soldiers wounded in war.
It was referred to in the classical period as herba militaris, because of its use in wound healing on the battlefield.
Use may date back even further. Evidence of yarrow has even been found in some Neanderthal grave sites. A study in 2012 by Karen Hardy, et al. found that yarrow was present in the dentition of Neanderthal remains from El Sidrón cave, an
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