Asteraceae
20–60 cm
Meadow
White
A flat-topped cluster of tiny white flowers with feathery, aromatic leaves — one of Britain's most ancient and useful medicinal herbs.
Natural History
Yarrow is one of the most widespread and ecologically valuable wildflowers in Britain, its flat-topped clusters of tiny white (occasionally pink) flowers appearing in meadows, grasslands, and road verges from June to November. The deeply divided, feathery leaves are strongly aromatic when crushed, with a distinctive, slightly bitter scent. Yarrow is an extraordinarily ancient medicinal plant — pollen of Yarrow has been found in Neanderthal burial sites, suggesting it has been used by humans for over 60,000 years. The plant is named after the hero Achilles, who is said to have used it to staunch the wounds of his soldiers at Troy. It is one of the most important plants for beneficial insects, attracting an enormous range of predatory and parasitic insects that help control garden pests.
Habitats
Key Pollinators
Traditional Uses
Yarrow has been used in traditional medicine for millennia as a wound herb, fever reducer, and digestive tonic. The leaves can be used in salads and herbal teas. It is an important companion plant in organic gardening.
Did You Know?
Yarrow pollen has been found in Neanderthal burial sites dating back 60,000 years, making it one of the oldest known medicinal plants used by humans.
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