June Plant of the Month: Yarrow

Drought and heat tolerant — and not picky about where it sets down roots — yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a native herbaceous perennial with a lot going for it. It has attractive feathery foliage with a spicy scent. White blooms, which appear in late spring and in summer are small and occur in flattened bunches known as corymbs that measure up to three inches. They can be preserved and used in dried arrangements. Many cultivars exist that add to its available color palate in shades of yellows, oranges, pinks and reds and some cultivars have a more upright growth profile.

Yarrow is rhizomatous so gardeners need to keep an eye on its spready tendencies. It also reseeds. Yarrow grows up to three feet and benefits from trimming it back to its terminal flower buds once it has bloomed. It is deer resistant and is attractive to butterflies.

Sometimes called nosebleed plant yarrow has the purported ability to staunch wounds.