Achillea millefolium |
PlantFile Report |
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Plant Profile |
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Plant |
ID |
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1067 |
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Botanic Name |
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Achillea millefolium |
Common Name |
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Yarrow, Common Yarrow, MIlfoil |
Family Name |
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Asteraceae |
Cultivars |
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'Ann Gillette','Anthea','Apple Blossom','Borealis','Burgundy','Calistoga','Cerise Queen','Cherry Queen','Cloth of Gold','Fire King','Lachsschonheit','Lavender Beauty','Paprika','Sammetriese','The Beacon','Moonshine' |
Origin |
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Europe, Temperate Asia, Zone 3-10 |
Growth Type |
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Perennial |
Bark Type |
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Soft wooded |
Foliage Type |
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Herbacious |
Water Use |
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High |
No. of Species |
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85 |
Growth Habit |
|
Prostrate |
Growth Rate |
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Fast |
Height |
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0.4 - 0.6 m (1 - 2 ft) |
Spread |
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1 m (3 ft) |
Plant Overview |
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This semi evergreen rhizomatous perennial has a spreading habit and forms a clump. It has grey green fern-like leaves and the small red to pink daisy-like flowers appear in a flattened cluster from spring to summer. The cultivars have yellow flowers. |
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Leaf |
Type |
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Simple |
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Additional Information |
Shape |
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Lanceolate |
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The leaves are lanceolate to linear, up to 300 mm (1 ft) long by a 35 mm (1 3/8 in) is wide and the margin is normally pinnatisect, but sometimes entire. The colour varies from dark green to grey green and the soft texture leaf is aromatic. |
Arrangement |
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Alternate |
Margin |
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Pinnatisect |
Colour |
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Grey-green |
Size |
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150 - 300 mm ( 5.9 - 11.8 in ) |
|
Flower |
Perfume |
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Odorless |
|
Additional Information |
Shape |
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Tubulate |
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The flower heads (capitulum) are made up of ray florets and tubulate disk florets and are surrounded by 20 overlapping bracts. The 10 mm (3/8 in) wide flower heads have 4 - 7 petal-like lobes that are white, pinkish-red or mauve. Appearing in spring. |
Inflorescence |
|
Capitulum |
Colour |
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Red - pink |
Size |
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2 - 4 mm ( 0.1 - 0.2 in ) |
Flowering in (Southern Hemisphere)
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
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Fruit |
Type |
|
Achene |
|
Additional Information |
Colour |
|
Brown |
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The small flattened glabrous achenes elongated up to 3 mm (1/8 in) long and are grey to dark brown and have no pappus. The seed is viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively to maintain true to type. |
Edible |
|
No |
Bird Attractive |
|
No |
Size |
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1 - 3 mm ( 0.0 - 0.1 in ) |
Fruiting in (Southern Hemisphere)
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|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
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Environment & Cultivation |
Natural Soil |
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Well drained, poor- fertile, moist-dry, sandy, clay or loamy soil, pH 5.0-8.0 |
Container |
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Pots, tubs, planter boxes and roof gardens |
Climate |
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Cold - cool temperate |
Aspect |
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Full sun, open to expose position, drought and frost-cold tolerant |
Pest & Diseases |
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Susceptible to powdery mildew, aphids, stem rot |
Fertiliser |
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Add organic matter to the soil in spring, mulch in winter keep moist during summer |
Pruning |
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May be lifted and divided every 2 to 4 years to increase vigour |
Cultural Uses |
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Propagation |
Common Yarrow is a hardy perennial that is grown in herbaceous borders or used for mass planting and as a spill over or as a container plant. It establishes from division in one season and is an excellent flower and foliage contrast plant.
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Sow fresh seeds in situ during spring. Divide established clumps (rhizome) during spring. |
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