Achillea millefolium

RHS Plant Profile

common yarrow

Other common names

devil's nettle, hundred-leaved grass, lace plant, milddail, milfoil, nose pepper, nosebleed, old man's pepper, sanguinary, savory tea, soldier's woundwort, thousand weed, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal

Synonyms

Achillea ambigua Poll., Achillea millefolium var. nigrescens, Achillea millefolium white, Achillea pratensis

Herbaceous Perennial

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A spreading native wildflower with narrow, aromatic, very finely divided leaves and flat heads of small, white, cream or pink flowers in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Achillea can be mat-forming or upright perennials, mostly herbaceous, with sometimes aromatic, pinnately divided or simple and toothed leaves and flattened clusters of small, daisy-like flower-heads
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe to W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Suitable for growing in a sunny situation in the wild garden, rock garden or flower-rich lawn where it can support over 100 species of insect. Good for cutting and drying. Spreads readily and may be unwelcome in fine lawns. See yarrow in lawns or achillea for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in the spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews