Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)

Flower: White to cream in flat-top clusters

Blooms: March to November

Leaves: Linear with numerous, very short, hightly dissected leaflets

Height: 1 to 3 feet

Stem: Covered with white cottony hairs

Found: Sea level to alpine

Tidbits: Medicinal use of yarrow was to staunch the flow of blood from a wound. Modern testing has proven that this was more than superstition; chemicals in the plant are effective in clotting blood. The leaves were ground up, boiled, and made into a salve and applied to wounds. American Indians utilize this plant to sooth bruises and burns and cure earaches. Pioneers found chewing on the leaves would help settle an upset stomach or help regulate the menstrual flow. An old Chinese proverb says that yarrow brightens the eyes and promotes intelligence.