Everything about yarrow flower : How to Plant & care for them

Yarrow flower

Yarrow flower specifications

• Scientific name : Achilea millefolium
• Tribe : Compositae
• Order : Asterales
• Family : Asteraceae
• Genus : Achillea
• Native : Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America.
• Other names : gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal

Common yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) is a perennial flowering plant that goes by many names, like gordaldo, poor man’s pepper, and thousand leaf. In the southwestern U.S., you’ll hear it referred to as a plumajillo, Spanish for ” little feather ” due to the feathery shape and lacy texture of the plant’s aromatic leaves.

Yarrow can grow to reach more than 3 feet tall during the course of a growing season, and it bears an umbrella-like canopy of clustered mini blooms on long, slender stems. Plant this herbaceous perennial in the spring, and come summer, you’ll be graced with little white flowers.

Common yarrow’s native propagation originated in the temperate regions of Asia and Europe, and it was introduced to North America during the colonial era. It is commonly seen growing across the United States in dry, disturbed soil, and while its beauty is delicate, the plant is also considered an aggressive weed. Common yarrow can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, yet poisoning is rare, as the tannins in the plant give it a bitter taste that deters animals from overconsumption.

Yarrow is called Sarigol in the dialect of North Khorasan and Azerbaijan. Yarrow with yellow flowers is also grown in Lorestan province and in the Lori dialect it is called ” Berenjdas ” and in the Laki dialect it is called ” Maineh flower “.

Flowering time of the plant is from the end of May to the end of July and the best time to harvest is the first half of July. All the different parts of this plant, including: flowers, leafy branches, leaves and flowering branches are all rich in medicinal properties. 

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Common Yarrow Care

Drought-tolerant common yarrow grows well in poor soil, making it an ideal plant for xeriscaping, especially if you live in a desert environment. Yarrow is most often sold as plant starts, but can be easily grown from seed and doesn’t need much attention once established.

Simply make sure to plant it in soil that is well-drained, watering it regularly during drought conditions, but giving it ample time to fully dry out in between. While this plant is technically considered invasive only in noncultivated settings, common yarrow still needs to be planted in an area where you don’t mind proliferation. You may find common yarrow seed included in wildflower mixes that, once planted and mature, make a great option for a cutting garden.

• Light

Yarrow prefers a garden plot that receives full sunlight, as these conditions will help it stay compact, yielding many blooms. This plant can tolerate partial shade, yet inadequate sunlight may cause it to grow long and spindly, requiring staking.

• Soil

Common yarrow can adapt to a variety of soil compositions, from sandy, to loamy, to clay. Still, whatever the medium, this plant grows best in dry, well-drained conditions. Avoiding fertilizer or compost is often suggested, as nutrient-rich soil will encourage aggressive, and possibly unwanted, growth.

• Water

Once established, common yarrow is drought-tolerant. Frequent, light waterings will only be needed to encourage germination and to mature small seedlings. After that, only a 1/2 inch of water weekly is needed to maintain growth. During periods of natural rainfall, cease watering altogether, especially if you’re getting up to, or more than, 1 inch of water per week.

• Temperature and Humidity

Yarrow thrives in warm, summer conditions, with temperatures of 65 F to 75 F, but can start to suffer heat damage if temperatures rise over 86 F. And while generally considered easy-going, yarrow does not like cold drafts or temperatures near freezing. Yarrow can tolerate some humidity, but prefers conditions dry and may fall victim to root rot or fungus if its soil becomes saturated.

• Fertilizer

Yarrow plants are low-maintenance when it comes to feeding. An annual side-dressing with compost in the spring should be enough to last throughout the season. However, some gardeners choose not to fertilize this plant at all, as nutrient-rich soil may encourage invasive spread.

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Types of yarrow plants

In the wild, yarrow typically blooms in lace-like shades of white or cream, but cultivated yarrow comes in many colors, like yellow, purple, pink, and red.

• Apple Blossom ( Achillea millefolium )

A. millefolium ‘Apple Blossom’ or ‘Apfelblute’ is one of numerous Galaxy hybrids from Germany, and is a cross between A. millefolium and A. taygetea.

• Cerise Queen ( Achillea millefolium )

The cerise queen yarrow blooms in shades of light pink and magenta for several weeks in summer. It is an eye-catching variety of yarrow with light evergreen foliage that gives off a fruity aroma. They are easy to care for and are resistant. Cerise queen grows up to 2 feet in height and thrives in full sunlight.

• Gold ( Achillea filipendulina )

Gold yarrow is aptly named for its blooms in a rich, bright yellow. As with most yarrow and have an extended blooming season of more than 4 weeks.

• Achillea tomentosa

This flower known as wooly yarrow, these peppy yellow flowers that grow on rich evergreen foliage. They grow well in full sunlight in normal soil or slightly sandy soil with minimal water needed. They are very easy to maintain and will bloom from late spring to mid-summer.

• Moonshine ( Achillea millefolium )

Perhaps the lightest shade of bright yellow blooms, moonshine yarrow is an eager bloomer lemon-yellow colored flower that is often chosen for its summer blooms. It is an aromatic flower and cutting the flower heads will ensure a return of blooms throughout the summer months.

• New Vintage Rose ( Achillea millefolium )

This is a great choice for growing yarrow for hot and dry climates. It provides rich green foliage peppered with rose-pink blooms. Trimming back after the first flush of flowers will ensure a mid-summer rebloom. Full sun is best for the new vintage rose yarrow.

• Paprika ( Achillea millefolium )

Paprika Yarrow is a garden favorite with clusters of bright red flowers that will bloom in the early summer before fading to light pink or creamy yellow. It requires little water and is hardy in soil that is quite dry or moderately dry, blooming less in soil that has more moisture. It does best in warm weather and is a fan of dry soil that has good drainage.

• Summer Pastels ( Achillea millefolium )

Summer pastels yarrow is a wonderful choice for gardeners looking for a mix of cheery colors. Their palette consists of pastel shades like yellow, light pink, salmon, lilac, and soft white. They are often chosen to be clipped for flower arrangements and because they require little care.

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Export of Iran dried yarrow plant

Export of yarrow dried flowers is one of the most important native medicinal plants in Iran, the export of which requires a comprehensive and correct plan for marketing in international markets. One of the most valuable medicinal plants is yarrow, which is grown in Iran as a wild flower and can even be cultivated.

This plant species has been the basis for the production of more than 70 types of drugs in the world, which are used in combination with other medicinal compounds. Unfortunately, due to the lack of attention to the processing sector of medicinal plants, many domestic products and wild plants are exported from the country unprocessed.

This lack of investment in the conversion industry sector has benefited markets and export target countries, as they re-sell their products to Iran at a much higher price.

In addition to its decorative aspect, dried yarrow flower has many usages in traditional medicine and pharmacy. The reasonable price of yarrow dried flowers has caused the sale and purchase of dried yarrow flowers for export to bring great profits to the exporters and wholesalers of yarrow dried flower , and in this way, it will also help the country’s economy and currency.

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Pruning

Yarrow needs regular pruning and deadheading in order to keep the plant in a state of continual bloom. Plant stems can grow long in a hot, humid climate, and may require cutting after flowering to reduce plant height and to avoid flopping. Habitual pruning will also help keep the plant in check by preventing self-sowing.

Propagating Common Yarrow

In ideal growing conditions, yarrow spreads rapidly and sometimes aggressively. For this reason, it’s best to divide the plant every two to three years, or as needed. Propagating yarrow by division allows you to relocate the same variety to a different area of your garden, or you can gift it to friends looking for additions to their perennial beds.

Here’s how to propagate yarrow through division :

1. Gather a spade shovel, gardening gloves, and compost.
2. In the spring, just as new growth starts to appear, use your shovel to loosen the soil around the plant.
3. Cut the root ball in half with your shovel, and divide one half into the desired number of segments, making sure each one has three, or more, stems attached.
4. Add the segments to your garden by digging holes spaced 1 to 2 feet apart and deep enough to accommodate the segment’s root ball.
5. Add compost to the hole and mix it into the soil.
6. Place the plant in the hole assuring the top of the root ball is flush with the soil line. Backfill the hole with a soil and compost mixture. Water thoroughly.

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How to Grow Common Yarrow From Seed

Yarrow also proliferates easily from seed sowed in the early spring. In approximately 120 days ( three months ), your plant will bear breathtaking blooms.

Here’s how to plant yarrow from seed :

1. Gather a seeding tray, seed-starting medium, and a heating pad ( optional ).
2. Sow the seeds indoors about eight to 10 weeks before the last predicted frost by distributing them over a tray filled with starting mix. Yarrow needs light to germinate, so sow the seeds on top of the mix—do not cover with soil.
3. Press seeds firmly into the mix. Water until moist.
4. Place the tray in a warm, sunny window indoors and add a heating pad to the bottom of the tray to help speed germination ( optional ). In about 10 to 14 days, the seeds will begin to germinate.
5. Harden off seedlings by placing the tray outdoors during the day for a week before transplanting them into your garden.

Potting and Repotting Common Yarrow

Common yarrow grows tall—some varieties can reach up to 40 inches. To accommodate its growth in containers, you’ll need to use a large pot or choose a dwarf variety. Yarrow grows best in a porous clay or terracotta pot that drains and dries easily. Any standard potting soil will do, but make sure it contains perlite for good drainage.

It’s best to use plant starts when growing yarrow in pots, as you’ll get a jump on maturity and blooming. To do so, fill your pot with potting soil, dig several holes in the soil, and place a start in each one, allowing space in between. Water the pot thoroughly and allow it to drain, and then place it in a sunny patio location. Once established, make sure the soil drys out completely between waterings.

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Overwintering

In late autumn, when the temperature starts to drop and your yarrow plant loses its vitality, cut the plant back to its basal leaves. The basal leaves will provide protection for the aboveground parts during the winter, and the act of pruning will allow the plant to focus on its root system during its period of dormancy.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Common yarrow may become susceptible to botrytis mold and powdery mildew—both of which will appear as a white powder on the leaves—if its roots are saturated with water. Improving soil conditions and airflow between the plants, as well as plenty of sunshine, can reduce the infection.

Spittlebugs can also move into a patch of yarrow. This infestation will present as specks of ” spit ” on the plants. If the number of bugs becomes overwhelming, use a strong spray of water from the garden hose to reduce the population and to remove the coating from the bugs. This will expose the bugs to the sun, eventually killing them.

How to Get Common Yarrow to Bloom

Yarrow is a late bloomer, often showing its color in August in most growing regions. Ample sunlight and near-perfect soil conditions will assure a successful bloom. Once the plant starts blooming, constant deadheading will keep it in a continual state of color. Fertilization is not recommended to enhance yarrow blooms, but will only cause the plant to spread rapidly and produce more greenery.

Common Problems With Yarrow

Overwatering is the most common issue with this extremely drought tolerant plant, as roots soaked in water may rot, or fungus may move into the plant. To avoid this, always plant yarrow in well-drained soil and stick to the suggested watering schedule. Avoid watering this plant altogether during periods of rain.

When grown in gardens without direct sun, yarrow stalks may become long and need staking. That said, it is next to impossible to stake a proliferate patch of yarrow. In that instance, all you can do is let it flop to the ground.

Notice : This article translated by google form Persian language. If you have any question or need more information please contact us or add a comment at the bottom of this page.