Achillea


Achillea is a group of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, known colloquially as yarrows. They were described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.
The genus was named after the Greek mythological character Achilles. According to legend, Achilles' soldiers used yarrow to treat their wounds, hence some of its common names such as allheal and bloodwort.
The genus is native primarily to Europe, temperate areas of Asia, and North America. The common name "yarrow" is usually applied to Achillea millefolium, but may also be used for other species within the genus.
These plants typically have frilly, hairy, aromatic leaves. The plants show large, flat clusters of small flowers at the top of the stem. The flowers can be white, yellow, orange, pink or red and are generally visited by many insects, and are thus characterised by a generalised pollination system.
Achillea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Achillea.

Cultivation

Achillea species and cultivars are popular garden plants. The following are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
Nearly 1,000 names have been published within the genus Achillea, at or below the level of species. Sources differ widely as to which of these should be recognized as species which ones merit subspecies or variety status, and which ones should be relegated to the dustbin of synonymy. For convenience, The Plant List maintained by the Kew Botanic Gardens in London is followed.

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