Achillea millefolium, commonly known as Yarrow or Common Yarrow, is a herbaceous perennial plant that is often regarded as an invasive weed. Yarrow is drought tolerant and grows well in poor soils, and is often found in waste areas, alongside roads, and in meadows and open forests.
Yarrow was used historically as an astringent, and derives its botanical name from that use. In Greek mythology, the centaur Chiron was said to have a great knowledge of healing, and he passed this knowledge on to his student Achilles. As the warrior hero of Homer's Iliad, Achilles used Yarrow to treat the wounds of his soldiers. Thus the Yarrow genus is called Achillea.
In wildflower gardens, Yarrow is valued as groundcover, displaying soft, lacy, and aromatic foliage and daisy-like flowers. Yarrow cultivars are preferred in ornamental gardens, as they feature stronger stems and a greater range of color, with bloom displays of pink, red, and yellow in addition to the standard white.
Yarrow is originally native to Europe and Western Asia. In Europe it is a weed, but it is a significant plant in the East, where Yarrow is considered an important part of I Ching divination. It is also said that Yarrow grows around the grave of Confucius.
Growing Yarrow from seed will yield less predictable results than propagation via division. Yarrow prefers poor soil, so avoid fertilization. Yarrow stems are floppy, so plant sturdier cultivars if you wish to avoid staking. If left unchecked, Yarrow can form invasive colonies.