Milfoil, Yarrow

Milfoil, Yarrow (Achillea) - Hardy herbaceous and alpine plants spread through Northern Asia, S. Europe, and Asia Minor, varying in height from 2 inches to 4 feet, their flowers being pale lemon, yellow, and white, but rarely pink or rose. They thrive in most soils; and, with the exception of the dwarfer mountain species, increase rapidly. Some of the large kinds are fine plants for groups, as A. Eupatorium. The alpine kinds are for the rock garden, or margins of choice borders.

The best of the larger kinds are excellent for large groups in mixed borders, and also in shrubberies; among the best being A. Eupatorium, A. Filipendula, A. millefolium roseum (a rose-colored variety of a native plant), and A. Ptarmica (the Sneezewort), the double variety being one of the best perennials.

The dwarfer species come in for groups for the rock garden or the margins of rock borders, and, occasionally, as edging plants, most of them growing freely and being easy of increase; but some of the higher alpine kinds are not very enduring in our open winters. The dwarf kinds are the most precious for the flower garden, and these are described by Mr E. H. Jenkins in Gardening Illustrated:—

Milfoil, Yarrow Pictures

Achillea millefolium L. - common yarrow

Achillea millefolium L. - common yarrow

Achillea millefolium L. var. borealis (Bong.) Farw. - boreal yarrow

Achillea millefolium L. - common yarrow

Achillea millefolium L. - common yarrow

Achillea millefolium L. - common yarrow

Related Flowers

Achillea Ageratifolia

Achillea Ageratifolia - As Anthemis Aizoon this was one of the many silvery-leaved plants tried in the "carpet-bedding" gardening forty odd years ago. It had no possible chance, however, against the sward-like Antennaria tomentosa. As a rock-gardening subject, it is at once good and choice, the narrow, silvery foliage and glistening white flower-heads rendering it at once distinct. A Grecian species, 4 inches to 6 inches high. Likes well-drained, sandy loam.

Achillea Argentea

Achillea Argentea - It is one of the gems of the silvery set, the short, bluntly terminated leaves, minutely pinnate, with pretty rosettes, above which to 4 inches or so high, rise the pure white flower-heads. Habit very neat and compact. Asia Minor

Achillea Clavennae

Achillea Clavennae - The pronouncedly forked and jagged leaves of this silvery-leaved kind separate it from all. Six inches or 8 inches high, free and vigorous in growth, and of striking whiteness, it is a plant for all. Both stems and leaves are endowed with a felt-like covering of silky hairs. Flower-heads white in a corymbose cyme. Common on calcareous rocks, E. Alps, etc.

Achillea Griesbachi

Achillea Griesbachi - This distinct and good sort is of garden origin, the deeply-notched leafage being of a hoary-grey or glaucous tone, the flowers pure white and freely produced in corymbs 6 inches to 9 inches high.

Achillea Holosericea

Achillea Holosericea - A good silvery-leaved sort of a neat, erect habit of growth, whose 6-inch long leaves approximate to the common Milfoil in outline. The leaflets are usually five-parted. Flowers golden-yellow. Greece.

Achillea Huteri

Achillea Huteri - A silvery species of tufted habit, and with distinctly notched leaves, growing 6 inches or more high. A good carpeter of the soil. Flower-heads white. Switzerland.

Achillea Jaborneggi

Achillea Jaborneggi - A pretty and interesting hybrid between A. Clavennae and A. moschata, of compact habit, with hoary foliage, and rather large, pure white flower-heads. A free-growing sort worthy of inclusion in any collection.

Achillea Kellereri

Achillea Kellereri - Of hybrid origin, and certainly one of the indispensables of the race, though by no means common. In established examples the linear leaves are 6 inches to 9 inches long, tapering to a point, and about 1/4 inch broad. Leaflets minute, isolated, and usually obscurely three-lobed at their extremities. Flower-heads white. Quite a gem among silvery-leaved sorts of the first rank, and an ideal subject for the rock garden.

Achillea Obristi

Achillea Obristi - A species having small, hoary, grey leafage in tufts, the white flower-heads attaining about 6 inches high. It is not one of the most distinct, attractive, or vigorous. Europe.

Achillea Rupestris

Achillea Rupestris - An Italian species with evergreen, and usually entire leaves, though in free growth they are frequently toothed at their extremities. The pure white flowers, which are freely produced at 4 inches to 6 inches high, contrast sharply with the foliage. An excellent rock-garden subject, preferring a good bed of sandy loam.

Achillea Serbica

Achillea Serbica - A tufted species of free growth, having short, narrow, finely-pinnate, more or less silvery, leaves, and a wealth of pure white flowers. An excellent rock or wall plant. So placed, the plant is usually very free flowering. On level ground it is less silvery and flowers less freely. Four to 6 inches high. Servia.

Achillea Tomentosa

Achillea Tomentosa - Of carpeting habit, and one of the best known, forms dense patches of woolly-green foliage, from which spring numerous corymbs of golden-yellow flower-heads about 9 inches high. Succeeds well in loamy soils, while growing most freely in those of a sandy nature. It flowers in May and June, and frequently later on in the season. Europe and N. Asia.

Achillea Umbellata

Achillea Umbellata - A Grecian species, and quite one of the prettiest and most distinct. It dislikes strong loamy soils or anything approaching wetness, and is happiest in a hot, dry, or poor, stony soil. In such it ranks with the best of the silver-leaved sorts. Admirably suited to a dryish wall with sunny aspect. Height 6 inches to 9 inches, or even more occasionally. Flowers white.