Yarrow – A Naturalized Pollinator Plant for Gardens

Yarrow ‘Cerise Queen’ (Achillea millefolium)
Image Credit: Eden Brothers

Yarrow is a native of Europe, but it has been in the USA for many years, and in many ways, it behaves like a native plant here now.

“Yarrow is considered an herb, a perennial and a leader for cut-and-dried flower arrangements, yet it is still overlooked by many Southern gardeners.

“There have been many herbal uses for yarrow. The leaves have a peppery taste and have been used finely chopped in salads while the flowers have been used to flavor liqueurs. It has a reputation in France for medicinal purposes where it was called carpenter’s herb in the belief that it has healing properties when used on the hands of working folks.

“Yarrow, known botanically as Achillea millefolium, is named for the Greek hero Achilles who is said to have discovered its medicinal properties. It is native to Europe and western Asia, and is now naturalized in many parts of the world. . . .

“Some of the prettiest gardens I have seen used yellow yarrow as a buffer between ox-eye or Shasta daisies and pink verbenas. I have seen striking combinations with Russian sage, the blue anise sage and the old fashioned larkspur. They work well with drought-tolerant plants like lantana and gomphrena. Don’t overlook the gray-to-green leaves with a fern-like texture as an asset in the garden.’