Yarrow

Description

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a hardy, long-lived perennial commonly found across the UK in both wet and dry habitats, including meadows, roadside verges, fields, and coastal grassland. Adaptable and resilient, it plays a useful role in land restoration and is often included in seed mixes to help return arable land to species-rich grassland.

Achillea millefolium has a strong, distinctive scent, often described as sweet and slightly spicy, with hints similar to chamomile or pine. Historically, the crushed leaves were used as herbal medicine, where they were applied directly to cuts and grazes to aid wound healing. Today, yarrow remains valued for its wildlife benefits as well as its toughness in challenging growing conditions.

How to Identify

Yarrow is easily recognised by its finely divided, feathery dark green leaves, which form wispy, feathery foliage close to the ground. From late spring through summer, it produces flat-topped clusters of small flowers held above the leaves on upright stems.

Each flower head is made up of tiny yellowish disc florets surrounded by white to pale pink ray florets. Together, these create the appearance of a single flower with a soft yellow centre and delicate white petals, making yarrow easy to spot among grasses and wildflowers.

Where to Grow

Yarrow grows best in open, sunny locations and is highly tolerant of poor, dry or free-draining soils. It will also cope well with coastal exposure and lighter soils where other plants may struggle.

Once established, it requires very little maintenance and is drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for wildflower meadows, wildlife gardens, verges, and informal grassland planting. Yarrow can also handle occasional cutting, allowing it to fit well into managed meadow schemes and naturalistic planting areas.