Achillea millefolium

RHS Plant Profile
common yarrow

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Other common names

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

Synonyms

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

Plants for pollinators
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 for more information

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