Worth knowing:
The aromatic scenting, perennial Common Yarrow grows up to 80 cm tall and is mainly be found in the sunny spots of meadows or waysides. In spring, it first develops a leaf rosette, from where it grows a stalk with leaves and blossoms later on. Its striking, terminal inflorescences appear panicle-like with small, 6 mm big, yellow-white coloured flowers that show from May until June. The Common Yarrow is known as a medicinal plant since the Greek physician Dioscurides.
Natural Location:
The Common Yarrow has its natural habitat in many countries of northern Europe and northern Asia, as well as in the USA and Canada. Some pollen of the herb was even found in the famous 49.000 year-old flower grave of Shanidar of today’s Iraq.
Cultivation:
Seed propagation is best be done in spring into small pots. The Common Yarrow is a light germinator and the seeds are only to be slightly pressed onto the potting earth. Later on, the seedlings are to be pricked out and planted outdoors or in bigger pots with breathing space of at least 20 cm in between. Tub cultivation has indeed to be considered since the Common Yarrow tends to overgrow.
Place:
The Common Yarrow prefers sunny places with an either sandy or loamy soil.
Care:
The Common Yarrow can easily endure longer dry periods, but it is sensitive to waterlogging. The plant reproduce through short runners and can also be multiplied in spring and autumn through cuttings. For tub cultivation, you should use a tall pot straight away since the Common Yarrow develops an up to one meter deep rootstock. All the aerial parts of the flourishing plant can be used. Just cut the herb 20 cm above ground and hang it in small bundles upside down in a shaded place for drying. After the herb has dried, it can be removed, chopped up into small pieces and stored somewhere cool, dry and light-protected.
During the winter:
The Common Yarrow is frost-resistant up to -30° Celsius. Since it sprouts rather late, it is sometimes overgrown by other weeds.
Picture credits:
- © © Aiwok - CC-BY-SA-3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Aiwok - CC-BY-SA-3.0 - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
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