Dig into Plants: Common Yarrow

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Common Yarrow

Other Common Names: Yarrow, Western Yarrow, Milfoil

Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium

Native to Alabama: Yes

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Sally and Andy Wasowski

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Basic Plant Information

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Norman G. Flaigg

I am a vasuclar plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
I do not keep leaves year-round, so I am deciduous.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow 2 – 3 feet high and 2 – 3 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Native Bees

Caterpillars

Painted Lady

Other Pollinators

Maintenance Notes

Dormant in winter.
Can spread aggressively.
Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase.
Deadheading after initial flowering will tidy the plant and encourage additional bloom.
Plants may also be cut back to basal foliage after bloom.
Can be pruned back severely.
Self-seeds regularly.
Can be unattractive at end of summer after blooming.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires average amount of water.

Dry soil: water once per week.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/ Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Prefers dry soil

Well-drained, Sandy,
or Loamy

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Wikipedia – Alpsdake

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Leaves are 3 – 5 inches long with many leaflets on each side of middle vein and those are further divided into smaller leaflets; lace or fern-like appearance; leaves are evenly distributed along the stem, with leaves near the bottom and middle of the stem being largest; leaves have varying degrees of hairiness

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Lanceolate	Margin: Lobate

Arrangement: Alternate	Form: Double Compound

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Terry Glase

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Large, compact, flat-topped cluster of 1 or more flower head; each flower head is made of 20-3-8 white-yellow ray florets (narrow, petal-like, infertile floret that surround the disk) and 10-20 white-yellow disk florets (tubular, fertile floret that forms disk).

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: Yellowish-white	Shape: Saucer-shaped	Bloom Months: April – July

USDA PLANTS database – Steve Hurst

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds and Rhizomes/ Tubers/ Roots & Shoots
Underground rhizomes spread and create new clumps of plants


Type: Fruit – Winged Seed Pod	Description: small, light tan, winged	Months in Seed: Summer

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

Plant Life Cycle continues:

After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

Minnesota Wildflowers
Katy Chayka
Click on image to enlarge it

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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