Fauna
Plant

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Also 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
Common Yarrow reference1 / 7
SAplants / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic
Predators
  • Grasshoppers
  • Aphids
  • Mammalian Herbivores
ThreatsLand development, agricultural intensification, heavy herbicide use
HabitatsGrasslands, meadows, pastures, open woodlands, roadsides
Life spanPerennial (5–10 years)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusAchillea
  4. SpeciesAchillea millefolium
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…