Abundance: uncommon
What: flowers, leaves, roots
How: flower/leaves-tea, young leaves-salad greens
Where: sunny fields, landscaping, yards
When: summer
Nutritional Value: low
Other Uses: used in the past to treat cuts and wounds.
Dangers: may cause allergic reaction in some people
Medicinal Summary:
Flowers/Leaves/Roots - hemostatic; anti-diarrheal; thermoregulator/fever reducer; wound healer; antibacterial; heals bruises, sprains, and strains; reduces swelling; reduces urinary tract problems; expectorant (poultice, tisane, tincture)
Leaf Arrangement: The leaves of yarrow are arranged alternately along the stem.
Leaf Shape: The leaves are compound, finely dissected and feathery, with numerous small leaflets. Each leaflet is lanceolate and measures approximately 1 to 4 inches in length.
Leaf Venation: Pinnate venation, with veins running from the base to the tip of each leaflet. Veins are hard to see due to thinness of the leaflets.
Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is typically serrated or toothed.
Leaf Color: The leaves are usually medium to dark green.
Flower Structure: The flowers are arranged in flattened, umbrella-like clusters known as compound corymbs.
Flower Color: Flower colors can vary, but common colors include white, pink, or yellow.
Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry, one-seeded achene.
Seed: Small, brown, and seed-like achenes are produced.
Stem: The stem is erect, slender, and usually hairless.
Hairs: Fine hairs may be found on some parts of the plant but are not a prominent feature.
Height: Achillea millefolium typically grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet.
Yarrow
Yarrow flowers
Yarrow stem and leaves
Young yarrow plants
Mature yarrow, going to seed.
Extreme close-up of yarrow leaves.
Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.
North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Look for yard along the edges of woods just inside the shady areas as well as in fields, especial across Central Texas. The finely divided leaves, from which it gets part of its scientific name "millefolium" give it a wild carrot-like appearance but it is a much shorter plant, rarely reaching three feet in height.
It's main use is medicinal rather than as a food source. Tea from its flowers and leaves helps produce productive sweating to flush toxins from the body and skin as well as to help fight infections. The leaves are a potent blood clotting agent used to staunch bleeding from even severe wounds as well as reduce the chance of infection. They were a part of Roman soldiers' "first aid kits" and worked surprisingly well.
There is some record of the dried flowers and leaves being smoked for respiratory medicinal properties.
Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.
