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Achillea millefolium L.

Common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, yarrow,

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderAsteralesFlowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
FamilyAsteraceaeThe aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
GenusAchilleaYarrows; “Achillea” means “Achilles,” who used the herb in battle
SpeciesmillefoliumMeans “thousand-leaf,” for the finely divided leaves

About plant names...

Common yarrow's genus, Achillea, derives from the mythical Greek character Achilles, who carried it into battle for its medicinal properties. Yarrow's species name, mille­folium, means "thou­sand-leaf," a reference to yarrow's myriad tiny leaves, resembling feathers. Some of its odder common names, such as devil's plaything, devil's nettle, and bad man's plaything, appar­ently stem from its use in witchcraft.

Identification: Flowers are white flat-topped or umbrella-shaped clusters. The leaves, which are sometimes hairy, are the most obvious identifying characteristic. Yarrow occurs throughout the U.S. and Canada, in grasslands and open forests. Plants reach up to 3' (91 cm) in height.

Edibility: Young yarrow leaves, which taste sweet with a bitter tinge, are said to be good when cooked like spinach, or in a soup. However, yarrow can be confused with the somewhat similar-appearing, extremely poisonous wes­tern water hemlock Skull & Crossbones, so don't eat yarrow unless you are absolutely certain of its identity.

Medicinal uses: Yarrow contains several chemicals which are used medically. It was believed to have healing powers and applied topically to treat wounds and staunch bleeding. An amazing number of other purported herbal uses are discussed in the Wikipedia article.

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

by Sigman

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Wildflowers, Ferns & Trees of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah

Wikipedia

Floridata.com

KingdomPlantae.net

The USDA Plants Database

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/29/2023 · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Vir­ginia

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/31/2014 · New Mex­ico
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 12 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

7/31/2016 · Skyline Drive, Shenandoah Nation, Virginia

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

10/12/2013 · Flat Rock Hill Trail, off Skytop Lane, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 22 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/4/2006 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Ver­mont

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

7/31/2016 · Skyline Drive, Shenandoah Nation, Virginia

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/6/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/29/2023 · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Vir­ginia

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/15/2015 · Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 6 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

5/31/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 9" (17 × 23 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

This pale pink variety is not as common as the white variety. · 6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 5 × 4½" (12 × 12 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

10/12/2013 · Flat Rock Hill Trail, off Skytop Lane, Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 6" (18 × 15 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/22/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine
≈ 5 × 3" (12 × 8.4 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

Nearly all plants need sunlight of course, but surprisingly, too much is deadly. Plants have a complex system for dealing with excess sun. Without this protection, even the wan light of midwinter sun can be fatal. The lower leaves of yarrow persist through the winter, in order to get a head start in the spring, but freezing temperatures shut down this protection system. So in the fall, yarrow protects its leaves by flooding them with purple coloring: plant sunglasses. · 9/16/2013 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 16 cm)

 

Achillea millefolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 26 Jul 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


  

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

5/31/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 7" (21 × 18 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/14/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/31/2014 · New Mex­ico
≈ 4 × 3" (9.9 × 8.2 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/3/2009 · 111 Near 119, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 4½" (9.2 × 11 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

This pale pink variety is not as common as the white variety. · 6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 5 × 4½" (13 × 12 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

9/18/2016 · Edgar M. Tennis Preserve, Deer I, Maine

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/3/2009 · 111 Near 119, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 21" (36 × 54 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/3/2009 · 111 Near 119, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 13" (39 × 33 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/22/2023 · Florida Lake Park, Freeport, Maine

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/14/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/22/2021 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine
≈ 3½ × 6" (9.4 × 14 cm)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 20 × 15" (51 × 38 cm) ID is uncertain

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

6/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

9/18/2016 · Edgar M. Tennis Preserve, Deer I, Maine

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf, thousand-seal, yarrow, )

8/15/2015 · Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 4 × 3½" (10 × 9 cm)

Range:

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