Common Yarrow (also known as Milfoil, Old Man's Pepper, Soldier's Woundwort, or Thousandleaf)
Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Asterales, Family: Asteraceae, Genus: Achillea, Species: Achillea millefolium · Asteraceae (Daisy or Composite family) · Simple but highly dissected; often appearing compound and fern-like. It is a perennial herbaceous plant.
Species
Achillea millefolium
Leaf Type
Simple but highly dissected; often appearing compound and fern-like. It is a perennial herbaceous plant.
Family
Asteraceae (Daisy or Composite family)
Shape
Lanceolate in overall outline, but bipinnately or tripinnately dissected into many fine, narrow segments.
Size
Typically 2 to 8 inches in length and 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide, forming a basal rosette and smaller leaves along the flower stalk.
Margin
Completely dissected into linear-lanceolate lobes, giving it a 'feathery' or 'thousand-leaf' appearance.
Arrangement
Alternate along the stem, often densely packed in a basal rosette at the ground level.
Rarity
Very Common; widely considered a weed in some contexts but a valued wildflower and medicinal herb in others.
Color & Pattern
Medium to bright green; the underside is often slightly paler. No variegation is typically present, but the fine division creates a textured pattern.
Venation Pattern
Pinnate, though the primary midrib is the most visible part due to the extreme dissection of the leaf blade.
Texture & Surface
Soft, feathery, and distinctly pubescent (hairy), which often gives the leaf a silver-green or glaucous tint in certain lighting.
Description
A hardy perennial herb that produces feathery, aromatic foliage and flat-topped clusters (corymbs) of tiny white or pink flowers. The plant grows from creeping rhizomes, allowing it to form dense mats. In autumn, the foliage may persist but often dies back to the ground in colder climates.
Key Features
The 'millefolium' name reflects the thousands of tiny leaf segments; the foliage has a strong, pungent, spicy scent when crushed.
Habitat
Disturbed soils, meadows, grasslands, roadsides, and open forests. It is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun.
Geographic Range
Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America) and widely naturalized globally.
Condition Notes
The specimen in the image appears healthy and vibrant (Excellent), showing the typical soft pubescence and fresh green growth of late spring or early summer.
Interesting Facts
The genus name Achillea is derived from the Greek hero Achilles, who reportedly used the plant to treat the wounds of his soldiers during the Trojan War.
Medicinal & Uses
Historically used as a styptic to stop bleeding. Modern uses include landscaping (drought-tolerant lawns), nectar for pollinators, and herbal teas. Caution: may cause skin irritation in some individuals.
Ecological Role
Extremely valuable to native bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. It acts as a soil stabilizer due to its rhizomatous root structure.
Similar Species
May be confused with Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) or Tansey, but Yarrow's leaves are more feathery and linear, and it lacks the hairy stems of wild carrot.
Foraging Tips
Look for it in early spring as a basal rosette. Identifying it by its spicy, herbaceous scent is the most reliable field method before it flowers.
Toxicity Warning
Generally non-toxic but contains thujone in small amounts; moderately toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested in large quantities. May cause contact dermatitis in humans.