Posted by
Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Apr 22, 2012 1:20 PM concerning plant:
Honey bees get nectar from this plant.
Posted by
mellielong (Lutz, Florida - Zone 9b) on Apr 17, 2015 9:42 PM concerning plant:
The book, "How to Know the Wildflowers" (1922) by Mrs William Starr Dana gives us many uses of this plant from all over Europe. She gives the common names of "Common Yarrow" and "Milfoil". As you can probably tell from the genus name, tradition claims that it was used by Achilles to cure the wounds of his soldiers. As of the book's publishing in 1922, the author says the plant still formed one of the ingredients of an ointment valued by the Scotch Highlanders. Early English botanists called the plant "nose-bleed" because if you put the leaves in your nose it would cause it to bleed. She quotes another writer, Gerarde, as saying men would chew the leaves (especially green) to cure a toothache. The pungent leaves also earned it the name "Old Man's Pepper". In Sweden, its name means "field hop" and refers to its use in manufacturing beer. Linnaeus considered the beer thus brewed to be more intoxicating than beer brewed with hops. The old women of the Orkney Islands believed "milfoil tea" had the power to dispel melancholy. In Switzerland, a good vinegar was said to be made from the alpine species.
Posted by
Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Nov 27, 2013 11:38 AM concerning plant:
Native in the Pacific Northwest, found along roadsides and in meadows. The native form is a rather dullish white.
Posted by
SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Jan 28, 2012 10:02 AM concerning plant:
This is a low-growing perennial with beautiful fern-like foliage. Flat-topped clusters of flowers rise 6 inches to 2&1/2 feet above the foliage sporadically from late May to frost. These flowers are excellent cut, either fresh or dry. Because of its graceful and nearly evergreen foliage, Yarrow makes a good texture plant for the front of the perennial garden, and it is a staple in meadows. It requires full sun and tolerates drought well. Given fertile soil, Yarrow will spread rapidly. Keep it in check by annually spading out the wanderers.
Posted by
ZGadev (Varna,Bulgaria) on Jul 12, 2018 12:08 PM concerning plant:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) or in Bulgarian Бял Равнец is one of the most used herbs in our bulgarian herbal medicine.
The herb can be used for: menstruation problems, leucorrhea, ulcer and gastritis.
It's a common plant here in Bulgaria, it can be found almost everywhere.
Posted by
Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 8, 2014 2:23 PM concerning plant:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a larval host plant for the Painted Lady butterfly. It also has special value to native bees, and supports conservation biological control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden, including lacewings, hoverflies, parasitic mini-wasps, and ladybugs. These beneficial insects feed on a variety of common garden pests.
Posted by
Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Dec 3, 2011 1:44 AM concerning plant:
Since at least the time of the ancients, yarrow has been used to treat cuts, wounds, burns and bruises. It is one of a handful of plants called allheal in the English herbal tradition. It was considered the 'life medicine' by the Navajos.
An infusion of the leaves and flower tops is drunk to reduce fever and as a tonic to stimulate appetite. A poultice made from the whole plant or a powder made up of the dried tops is applied to cuts and wounds. It seems to be accepted by scientific research as acceptable in these uses, particularly as an astringent.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Jul 21, 2023 9:28 AM concerning plant:
This species is actually native in both Eurasia and North America according to the USDA, Wikipedia, and the US Forest Service. In North America there are genotypes both native and those brought over from Europe in colonial times. Some native nurseries sell some and many don't. I don't know how they tell the genotypes apart. This White or Common Yarrow is a common wild plant in both Eurasia and North America. It is an easy, tough perennial to grow in a garden, where it can be aggressive. It needs to be dug up and divided after a few years to keep it neat. There are a number of cultivars selected with white or pink or red flowers.
Posted by
KFredenburg (Black Hills, SD - Zone 5a) on Jun 18, 2020 7:13 PM concerning plant:
Among this species' several common names, Milfoil and Plumajillo (which is not listed in the database, and it means "little feather") refer to the divided leaves, and Sneezeweed (also not listed in the database) and Nosebleed may derive from the irritating odor. Spanish Californians once steeped leaves in water to treat cuts and bruises and to stop bleeding.