Achillea millefolium (Fr: achillée boréale En: boreal yarrow)

Boreal Yarrow

Achillea millefolium
Alternative names: Common Yarrow, Milfoil
French: Achillée boréale, Herbe à dindes

Yarrow is one of the oldest medicinal plants known to humanity, used across cultures throughout the northern hemisphere. Its name, Achillea, refers to the Greek hero Achilles, who is said to have carried the plant during the Trojan War to stop bleeding in battle. Its long-standing value is reflected in the discovery of Neanderthal burial sites containing yarrow remains.

The plant’s finely divided, feather-like leaves give it the name “millefolium,” meaning “a thousand leaves.” Among the Anishinaabe, it has been referred to as “squirrel tails”, a fitting description of its bushy, soft foliage.

This adaptable perennial produces flat-topped clusters of white to pale pink flowers from June through October, and is a magnet for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. It grows well in dry to moderately moist soils, from poor to rich, and is ideal for naturalizing, wildflower lawns, or meadow gardens. It tolerates mowing and can even be used to replace parts of turfgrass.

In richer soils, it may grow taller and flop over—cutting it back in June can help maintain a more compact form. While these plants appear to be of the native North American variety based on leaf and stem characteristics, they may also be hybridized with European yarrow (Achillea millefolium ssp. millefolium), which is widespread.

Height: 0.5 to 1 m
Bloom time: June to October
Light: Full sun
Moisture: Dry to moderate
Soil: Tolerates poor to rich soils
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, meadows
Ecological benefits: Pollinator support, erosion control, lawn replacement
Edible/Medicinal: Historically used for wounds and teas (use with care)