Achillea millefolium
(yarrow)

Preferred Common Name

• yarrow

Other Scientific Names

• Achillea albida Willd.
• Achillea ambigua Boiss.
• Achillea angustissima Rydb.
• Achillea arenicola A.Heller
• Achillea bicolor Wender.
• Achillea borealis Bong.
• Achillea californica Pollard
• Achillea ceretanica Sennen
• Achillea compacta Lam.
• Achillea coronopifolia Willd.
• Achillea crassifola Colla
• Achillea cristata hort. ex DC.
• Achillea dentifera Rchb.
• Achillea eradiata Piper
• Achillea fusca Rydb.
• Achillea gigantea Pollard
• Achillea gracilis Raf.
• Achillea haebkeana Tausch
• Achillea intermedia Schleich.
• Achillea lanata Lam.
• Achillea lanulosa Nutt.
• Achillea laxiflora A.Nelson
• Achillea magna Auct.
• Achillea magna L.
• Achillea marginata Turcz. ex Ledeb.
• Achillea megacephala Raup
• Achillea nabelekii Heimeri
• Achillea occidentalis Raf. ex Rydb.
• Achillea ochroleuca Eichw.
• Achillea ossica K.Koch.
• Achillea pacifica Rydb.
• Achillea palmeri Rydb.
• Achillea pectin-veneris Pollard
• Achillea pratensis Saukel and R.Länger
• Achillea pseudo-tanacetifolia Wierzb. ex Rchb.
• Achillea puberula Rydb.
• Achillea pumila Schur
• Achillea rosea Desf.
• Achillea setacea Schwein.
• Achillea sordida (W.D.J.Koch) Dalla Torre and Sarnth.
• Achillea subalpina Greene
• Achillea submillefolium Klokov and Krytzka
• Achillea sylvatica Becker
• Achillea tanacetifolia Mill.
• Achillea tenuis Schur
• Achillea virgata hort. ex DC.
• Achillios millefoliatus St.-Lag.
• Alitubus millefolium (L.) Dulac
• Alitubus tomentosus Dulac
• Chamaemelum millefolium (L.) E.H.L. Krause
• Chamaemelum tanacetifolium (All.) E.H.L.Krause

International Common Names

• English: bloodwort; carpenter’s weed; common yarrow; milfoil
• Spanish: falsa Altamisa; hierba de las cortaduras; milefólio; milenrama; milhojas; plumajillo
• French: achillée millefeuille; aillefeuille; herbe-à-dinde
• Chinese: shi
• Portuguese: erva-carpinteira; erva-das-cortadelas; erva-de-João-de-Grisley; espuma-do-mar; eupatório-demésue; macela; macela-de-São-João; macela-Francesa; milefólio; mil-em-rama; milfolhada

Local Common Names

• Bolivia: salvia de virgen
• Cuba: milenrama
• Dominican Republic: ciprés de invierno; ciprés de Judea; ciprés de perla; milfoil; perla; sereno de invierno
• Germany: Gemeine Schafgarbe
• Guatemala: alhucema; mil en rama; pumajillo
• Haiti: mil en rama
• Honduras: alhucema; mil en rama; talquezal
• Italy: millefoglio
• Jamaica: milfoil
• Japan: seiyonokogiriso
• Mexico: mil en rama
• Netherlands: Duizendblad
• Puerto Rico: milfoil; perla
• Sweden: roellika
• USA: milfoil; nose-bleed; plumajillo; sanguinary; soldier's woundwort; thousand leaf; thousand seal; western yarrow

EPPO code

• ACHMI (Achillea millefolium)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Asterales
•                         Family: Asteraceae
•                             Genus: Achillea
•                                 Species: Achillea millefolium

The genus Achillea, has ca. 110– 140 species, mostly native to Eurasia, with a few native to northern Africa and North America. The name Achillea refers to Achilles using the species to treat the wounds of his fellow soldiers during the Trojan War; the ephithet millefolium is a reference to its “many leaves” or “thousand leaves” (Mitich, 1990). The origin of the common name “yarrow” is unknown, but it is believed to come from “garawa” and to have been in use since ca.725 A.D. (Mitich, 1990).

Hybridization and polyploidism is common in Achillea millefolium, which has made the delimitation of the species difficult, making several closely related species treated as either belonging to an A. millefolium species complex or as a single species with multiple varieties (Gou et al., 2005; Applequist and Moerman, 2011). The species lacks reproductive isolation between the ploidy populations and good defining morphological characters to differentiate the ecotypes into species (Tyrl, 1975).

There is no consensus as whether the North American populations, with about 58 names applied, should be treated as conspecific with A. millefolium, or as different species (Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 2015). Native Americans used the indigenous taxon in the pre-Columbian era, but later uses probably also included plants introduced from Europe (Guo et al., 2005).

Ramsey et al. (2007) assessed the history of differentiation of A. millefolium using molecular techniques and their results suggest that the species in North America is a monophyletic group distinct from the European and Asian relatives, validating the colonization of the species via the Bering Land Bridge in the Pleistocene. The authors recommend the recognition of two species in North America: A. borealis for the autopolyploid members of A. millefolium that occur from Canada to Mexico, and A. alpina for the allotetraploids that occur mainly in Asia but extend to Canada and Alaska. This Compendium follows The Plant List (2013) and the use of Achillea millefolium, until changes are accepted and widely implemented. 

The following description is from Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 2015:

Perennials, 6–65+ cm (usually rhizomatous, sometimes stoloniferous). Stems 1(–4), erect, simple or branched, densely lanate-tomentose to glabrate. Leaves petiolate (proximally) or sessile (distally, weakly clasping and gradually reduced); blades oblong or lanceolate, 3.5–35+ cm × 5–35 mm, 1–2-pinnately lobed (ultimate lobes ± lanceolate, often arrayed in multiple planes), faces glabrate to sparsely tomentose or densely lanate. Heads 10–100+, in simple or compound, corymbiform arrays. Phyllaries 20–30 in ± 3 series, (light green, midribs dark green to yellowish, margins green to light or dark brown) ovate to lanceolate, abaxial faces tomentose. Receptacles convex; paleae lanceolate, 1.5–4 mm. Ray florets (3–)5–8, pistillate, fertile; corollas white or light pink to deep purple, laminae 1.5–3 × 1.5–3 mm. Disc florets 10–20; corollas white to grayish white, 2–4.5 mm. Cypselae 1–2 mm (margins broadly winged).

There is scarce information on the introduction of A. millefolium and its spread outside its native range. It is one of the oldest plants with evidence of human use, and diversification apparently occurred in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (Mitich, 1990; Gou et al., 2005). Although it is reported to have been used by Native Americans prior to colonization by Europeans, the species was also introduced from Europe (Guo et al., 2005). Most of the information available for its introduction is from New Zealand, where it was introduced in the late 1800’s to establish pastures on cleared lands, for medicinal purposes and as forage for sheep (Bourdot et al., 1979; Bourdot and Field, 1988). It was also introduced in Australia as an ornamental plant and for medicinal uses (Sanecki et al., 2003). In both countries it is reported to have spread considerably. In New Zealand, the species was included in pasture seed mixtures, which contributed to its dispersion (Bourdot et al., 1985).

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral
• very alkaline

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Special soil tolerances

• infertile

Vegetative reproduction occurs via the rhizomes mainly when they get fragmented and apical dominance is removed (Bourdot, 1984; Bourdot et al., 1985). Seeds are dispersed by wind over short distances of 2-3 metres (Bourdot and Field, 1988). They are also reported to be dispersed by clothing, vehicles and pack animals (Barros and Pickering, 2014).

A. millefolium is reported to be intentionally introduced to South Chile and to the Aconcagua Park in Argentina (Barros and Pickering, 2014). The cultivar ‘GO152’ was produced at AgResearch Grasslands at New Zealand to be available to farmers and researchers for forage use (Rumball, 2005). Intentionally introduced to New Zealand and Australia for pasture regeneration, as a medicinal plant, for forage and as an ornamental (Bourdot et al.; 1979; Bourdot and Field, 1988; Sanecki et al., 2003). 

In New Zealand, crop losses have been attributed to A. millefolium, where cost of manually removing the species is reported to be very high (Bourdot and Field, 1988). Dairy products from cows feeding on A. millefolium have an undesirable flavour (Mitich, 1990). 

A. millefolium has an extensive rhizome system which gives the species a strong competitive advantage over native ones. In controlled experiments, the A. millefolium rhizome system restricted the growth of Poa fawcettiae, which is a dominant species in the Australian Alps (Johnston and Pickering, 2004).

Plants contain possible allergens that could cause allergic reactions (Warwick and Black, 1982).

• Invasive in its native range
• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Tolerant of shade
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential
• Gregarious
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year
• Reproduces asexually

• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts agriculture
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Hybridization
• Rapid growth
• Rooting

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Difficult/costly to control

Economic Value

A. millefolium is one of the oldest plants known to have been used for traditional medicine, and is still in use worldwide (Mitich, 1990; Applequist and Moerman 2011). Some of the uses reported are for gastrointestinal disorders, bleeding, pain, wounds, anxiety disorders, skin conditions and inflammation. Biomedical research findings have validated some of these medicinal uses (Applequist and Moerman, 2011; Dall’Acqua et al., 2011; Baretta et al., 2012; Akram, 2013; Souza et al., 2013; Soukand and Kalle, 2013; Miranzadeh et al., 2015). Yarrow extract is listed as an ingredient in about 1998 cosmetic products (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 2001). Extracts from the aerial parts are also used as a veterinary treatment for ear infections (Lans, 2008).

Hybrids and cultivars have been developed from various Achillea species, including A. millefolium, which is considered as an important garden plant (Zhang et al., 1996). Armitage (1992) report four to five species of Achillea that are commonly produced in American and European nurseries to use as garden plants and as a cut flower.

Social Benefit

A. millefolium is one of the species used in Poland for Assumption Day herbal bouquets, which are composed of medicinal, apotropaic and crop plants to ensure the well-being of farms and the communities (Luczaj, 2011).

Environmental Services

Pecetti et al. (2014) report the species as used for restoration on disturbed Alpine areas; for which they suggest to produce the seeds on lower land, which does not affect either the seed yield or the morphological and physiological characters. This understory herb is part of the primary food source of grazing animals during the snow free season, like the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) (Hicks and Turkington, 2000; Turkington et al., 2002). A. millefolium is also recommended to be used for restoration of grasslands to improve the species diversity of habitats (Hopkins et al., 1999).

A. millefolium has been suggested as a species to be planted as part of the cover crop mixture used in apple orchards to attract beneficial arthropods and act as a biocontrol (Bostanian et al., 2004). This was also tested by Bone et al. (2009) without conclusive results for an impact on the arthropod population, suggesting that this strategy might not be suitable for all environments. It is also one of the species recommended to be used as wildflower sod mixtures to be planted in the southeastern USA for low maintenance of sites, land restoration and erosion control (Johnson and Withwell, 1997).

Extracts and essential oils show acaricidal and insecticidal activities and mosquito repellent activity (Jaenson et al., 2006; Song et al., 2016). Benelli et al. (2015) report that the essential oils of A. millefolium show good toxicity rates against the West Nile vector Culex pipiens and the Echinostoma intermediate host, Physella acuta, proposing that further studies should be made to develop vector controls.