In this country, yarrow often grows on the edge of country lanes or on railway tracks. The frugal and easy-care plant not only flowers beautifully, but it can also be used as a versatile medicinal plant.

Yarrow is a decorative medicinal plant

Worth knowing about yarrow:

Botanical name: Achillea millefolium
Other popular names: Achilles herb, soldier herb, goose tongue, thousand leaf, lady thanks
Plant family: Asteraceae
Height of growth: depending on species and location from 20 to about 80 centimeters
Flower shape: daisy family with pseudo umbels (therefore dangerous for daisy family allergies)
Flowering period: mainly from July to September
Location: likes sunny, with moist and well-drained soil
Hardy: easily hardy outdoors
Propagation: by seed and by root division
Perennial: after every four to five years a division (against aging) is advantageous

Care for the yarrow in the garden properly

The most important criterion for healthy growth of yarrow in the garden is the selection of a suitable location. This should be as sunny and moist as possible, but should also have a soil that is as permeable as possible. Since the various subspecies of yarrow are available in specialist shops in different growth heights, it is advisable to choose according to the planting site in the perennial bed or in the rock garden. In addition, different heights and flower colors can be combined to create an interesting overall picture in the garden bed. Basically, the yarrow proves to be a grateful garden perennial due to its following properties:

  • tolerant of different pH values in the soil
  • Re-flowering possible by pruning in July
  • easy propagation and care

Harvest the yarrow as a medicinal plant

For fresh consumption and for drying, yarrows are ideally harvested from home cultivation, since contamination with pesticides or a mix-up cannot always be completely ruled out in the wild. The freshly squeezed juice from the young shoot tips of the yarrow has a digestive-regulating effect and stimulates the appetite, but should only be used sparingly. Teas and sitz baths made from the dried leaves and blossoms can also lead to skin irritation in the event of an overdose and in those who are allergic to daisies.

tips

Sometimes the yarrow turns out to be an unwanted guest in the garden when it fills in gaps in the lawn on its own. Since fighting with chemical agents is relatively expensive and time-consuming, manual removal and timely filling of holes in the lawn with scattered lawn seeds is recommended. Constantly keeping the lawn short also prevents the yarrow from self-seeding.

Category:

Herbs