Seasonal Wild Flowers

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Asteraceae

Milfoil

May to December

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Yarrow

Yarrow grows in most grassland types, ranging from lawns

to sea-cliffs. It also grows on waste ground, sand dunes

and shingle, and by roads, paths and railways.

It is a native, perennial, stoloniferous, strong smelling

herb, growing up to 80cm.

The flowerhead is slightly domed.

The outer (ray) florets are female with larger, white or

cream-coloured petals and an orange stigma.

Disk (inner) florets are hermaphrodite with 5 small white

petals.

Several coloured forms are found in the wild, which are

hybrids between the native and garden forms.

The leaves are 2 to 3 pinnate and strongly aromatic.

Yarrow by the Lune estuary path, Lancaster

Flowerhead

Close-up of flowers - orange stigmas

Mauve form

Aromatic leaves

Close-up of leaf