Yarrow

(Achillea millefolium)

Basic Identification

Common Names
Yarrow
Common yarrow
Milfoil
Soldier’s woundwort
Thousand-leaf

Botanical Name
Achillea millefolium

Plant Family
Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Parts Used
• Aerial parts (leaves, flowers, stems) – primary medicinal use
• Flowers – often preferred for specific preparations

Habitat and Native Range

Yarrow is native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and is now widely distributed across temperate regions worldwide.

It grows best in:
• sunny fields and meadows
• roadsides and disturbed soils
• grasslands and open landscapes
• well-drained, often poor soils

Yarrow is a hardy, adaptable plant that spreads easily and is commonly found growing wild. It is also cultivated for both medicinal use and ornamental purposes.

Overview

Yarrow is a versatile and widely respected herb in Western herbalism, known for its ability to regulate circulation, support the body during fever, and promote tissue healing. It is often considered a foundational remedy for conditions involving blood flow, inflammation, and acute imbalance.

Despite its relatively simple appearance, yarrow is a powerful herb with a broad range of actions. It is especially valuable in situations where the body needs to move, regulate, or restore balance—whether through improving circulation, supporting the immune response, or assisting in wound healing.

Yarrow is used in both acute and long-term applications and has a long history of use in traditional herbal practice, particularly in first aid and fever management.

Basic Uses

Yarrow is commonly used for:

• Fever and early-stage illness (to support sweating)
• Poor or stagnant circulation
• Wounds and minor bleeding
• Inflammatory conditions
• Digestive discomfort associated with stagnation
• Menstrual irregularity or discomfort

Botanical Description / Morphology

Growth Habit
Perennial herb, typically 1–3 feet tall, with an upright, spreading growth pattern and the ability to form dense patches through underground rhizomes.

Stem
• Erect, angular, and slightly hairy
• Green to gray-green
• Firm and somewhat fibrous

Leaves
Arrangement: Alternate
Shape: Finely divided, feathery, fern-like segments
Margin: Deeply dissected
Surface: Soft, slightly hairy

Venation
Not prominent due to the highly divided leaf structure

Flowers
Type: Composite flower (daisy-like) arranged in flat-topped clusters (corymbs)
Petal Shape: Small white (sometimes pink) ray florets
Center: Yellow disc florets

Key Feature
Flat-topped clusters of small daisy-like flowers combined with finely divided, “thousand-leaf” foliage—one of the most recognizable identification features.

Roots
• Rhizomatous root system
• Spreads laterally, forming colonies
• More established and persistent than shallow-rooted annuals

Key Identifying Features

• Flat-topped clusters of white or pale pink flowers
• Finely divided, feathery leaves (“thousand leaves”)
• Slightly aromatic when crushed
• Upright, hardy growth habit

Similar Species / Lookalikes

• Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)
→ Similar white flower clusters, but leaves are less finely divided and stem is more delicate

• Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) ⚠️
→ Highly toxic; lacks the characteristic yarrow leaf structure and has smooth stems often marked with purple spots

• Other Achillea species
→ Similar medicinal properties, but may vary in flower color and regional distribution

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