eastern yarrow

Plant Type

Herbaceous Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

1-3 ft. tall
1-3 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Drought, Salt Exposure

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil

Propagation

By seed, By division

Plant Propagation Notes

Plants can spread aggressively by rhizomes and they self-seed regularly. They can be propagated by seed or division.

Plant Planting Notes

Plant 12″ apart.

Plants/Diseases

Stem rot, powdery mildew and rust are occasional disease problems.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects

Leaves

Leaves alternate, oblong to lanceolate, and 1-2 pinnately lobed. Often arrayed in multiple planes. Approximately 1-3 inches long and less than 1 inch wide.

Flowers

Ten to 100 flowers arranged in corymb inflorescences. Each flower has 4-5 petals and is 1.5 by 1.5 mm.

Fruit

Capsule with broadly winged margins.

Toxicity

Low toxicity. May cause skin dermatitis.

Edibility

To make a tea, soak leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Chop leaves and steep in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink as a tea. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.

 

USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Dry, Medium

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Pastures, meadows, roadsides, stream sides, woodlands, waste grounds, dry or sandy soils, also in damp, clayey, and salty soils.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Common throughout South Carolina

Subspecies

From Weakley’s Flora of the Southeastern United States: South Carolina (2020): “The Achillea millefolium aggregate is a taxonomically very complex entity, with races of different ploidies, and both introduced and native genotypes in e. North America. Ramsey, Robertson & Husband (2008) recommended treating native North American races as A. borealis; most eastern North American populations represent native North American races, most closely allied to e. Asian taxa, with only a few collections of European races from near old port cities (Ramsey, pers. comm.; Ramsey 2011; Levin 2011). Later work suggests that A. borealis should be narrowly applied to a western North American entity, and that the oldest name available for native eastern North American Achillea is A. gracilis, a course followed here.”