Yarrow, Common

Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, comes from Europe and has naturalized itself in the U.S. Compared to Western Yarrow, the Common variety is much taller, with aggressive vigor and a later flowering. Medicinally, it is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic and a tonic. It’s a great herb for colds and flu, and a hot tea of the leaves and flowers induces sweat to reduce heat and toxins. Part of an herbal mixture known as “gruit” for flavoring beers prior to hops. Flowers and leaves are used in some liquors and bitters. Especially useful companion plant for repelling bad insects while attracting good predatory ones and for improving soil quality. Attracts ladybugs, hoverflies and predatory wasps. Essential oil kills mosquito larvae. In rare cases can cause allergic skin rashes, prolonged use can increase skin photosensitivity, triggered when wet skin contacts wet grass and yarrow together. Also known as Eurasian Yarrow and Yarrow Official. Tags: Color: White, Specialty: Deer Resistant, Certification: Organic.

Native to the Eurpean content and the islands of Scandinavia. It is found in alpine meadows and disturbed soils. Genus Archillea is from the mythical Greek character Achilles who carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. Found in Neanderthal flower burial of northern Iraq dated 60,000 BC along with a number of other medicinal herbs. In antiquity known as herbal militaris for stanching the flow of blood from wounds, cuts and abrasions. Yarrow is also known as gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort, thousand-leaf, and thousand-seal.