Plant · GBIF taxon 3120060
common yarrow
Achillea millefoliumAlso known as Milfoil, Nosebleed Plant, Old Man's Pepper, Gordaldo
Common yarrow carpets sunny meadows and disturbed soils with dense, flat-topped clusters of tiny white to blush-pink flower heads. Its feathery, deeply dissected leaves resemble delicate fern fronds and release a pungent, herbal aroma when crushed. Spreading through creeping underground rhizomes, this resilient perennial forms hardy colonies that attract diverse pollinators while stabilizing loose soil.
FloweringAromaticPerennial
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Grasshoppers
- Aphids
- Mammalian Herbivores
ThreatsLand development, agricultural intensification, heavy herbicide use
HabitatsGrasslands, meadows, pastures, open woodlands, roadsides
Life spanPerennial (5–10 years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusAchillea
- SpeciesAchillea millefolium
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- May cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals; wear gloves if handling large quantities.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains plant compounds such as sesquiterpene lactones that can induce localized rash or skin swelling in sensitive people.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for fine fern-like leaves and flat, tight clusters of small white flower heads on sturdy stems.
- What to do
- Wear protective garden gloves when harvesting or clearing large patches, and wash hands afterward.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Inspect the flower heads closely to spot tiny predatory insects like hoverflies taking shelter.
- Identification: Gently press the foliage between your fingers to detect its distinct sage-like scent.
- Gardening: Grow in full sun and well-draining soil to maintain upright growth without staking.
Close Relative (c) nociveglia, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Aster Family Kin (c) Maria, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Maria · cc-by
Aster Family Kin (c) Afanasovich Alexey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Afanasovich Alexey · cc-by
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