Plant · GBIF taxon 3120333
Sneezewort
Achillea ptarmicaAlso known as Sneezeweed, Goose Tongue, Sneezewort Yarrow, White Tansy
Sneezewort sends up upright stems capped with loose, open clusters of white daisy-like flower heads throughout mid to late summer. Native to damp meadows, riverbanks, and marsh edges across Eurasia, it spread widely as both a garden ornamental and a naturalized wildflower. Dried foliage was historically ground into a sneezing powder used to clear nasal passages, giving this resilient perennial its memorable name.
FloweringPerennialAromatic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthesis
Predators
- Aphids
- Slugs
- Grasshoppers
ThreatsWetland drainage, land development, agricultural intensification
HabitatsWet meadows, stream banks, marshes, damp pastures
Life spanPerennial (5–10+ years)
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesAchillea ptarmica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Optimal Viewing: Look along damp meadow margins and stream edges from mid-summer into autumn.
- Identification Cue: Crush a leaf to detect a sharp, spicy scent distinct from the sweet herbal smell of common yarrow.
- Distinguishing Leaves: Check for narrow, finely serrated single leaves rather than the fern-like, feathery foliage of common yarrow.
Co-occurring Composite Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Co-attribution must be given to the Chanticleer Garden. / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Named Look-alike no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative SAplants / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) nociveglia, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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