Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Family: Asteraceae · Also called Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Thousand-Leaf, Santolina millefolium, Achillea tenuifolia, Alitubus millefolium
Earthy & Warm · Summer bloomer
Yarrow is the warrior's flower, named for Achilles and used to treat battlefield wounds for millennia. Its flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers create elegant platforms that hover above feathery, fern-like foliage. Modern cultivars come in a range of warm colors from white through yellow, coral, and deep red, but wild yarrow's white umbels remain the most medicinally potent.
healing, courage, protection, love divination
In the Victorian language of flowers, yarrow means “Healing and protection in battle”. Named for the Greek hero Achilles, who reportedly used yarrow to treat his soldiers' wounds during the Trojan War. The I Ching, the ancient Chinese divination text, traditionally uses dried yarrow stalks. In European folk medicine, yarrow was called 'herba militaris', the military herb, for its wound-healing properties.
Did You Know?
Yarrow has been found in 60,000-year-old Neanderthal burial sites, suggesting it may be one of the first plants used medicinally by humans. Modern research confirms its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. The essential oil (blue from chamazulene) is used in high-end skincare.
Meadows, roadsides, and grasslands across the entire Northern Hemisphere
Yarrow is native to Europe, Asia, North America. It naturally grows in meadows, roadsides, and grasslands across the entire northern hemisphere.
Scent Profile
“A sharp, herbal-camphor fragrance with sweet and peppery undertones, medicinal yet pleasant, the scent of an ancient apothecary.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameAchillea millefolium
- FamilyAsteraceae
- Native ToEurope, Asia, North America
- Bloom SeasonSummer
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Named for the Greek hero Achilles, who reportedly used yarrow to treat his soldiers' wounds during the Trojan War. The I Ching, the ancient Chinese divination text, traditionally uses dried yarrow stalks. In European folk medicine, yarrow was called 'herba militaris', the military herb, for its wound-healing properties.