Achillea millefolium Schneetaler

The 'Schneetaler' Yarrow is a vigorous semi-evergreen perennial with upright habit and pure white umbel flowers that appear from July to September. Its aromatic foliage, of dark green colour, forms a tuft with a light and feathery silhouette that complements both more rural scenes and larger, fleshy perennials in sunny borders. Yarrow can be planted in all regions, in sunny and well-drained soil. It is an excellent perennial for flower beds. Heat and drought resistant in summer, it is also suitable for dry gardens. With its spreading habit, it is also ideal as a ground cover, gradually forming beautiful flowering carpets as it spreads through its rhizomes.

Yarrow is a stoloniferous perennial plant native to Europe and Asia Minor and belongs to the asteraceae family. It attracts pollinators, especially beetles, thanks to its nectar. It forms a tuft of characteristic leaves that resemble those of some ferns. The 'Schneetaler' Yarrow reaches 60 cm (24in) in height at full bloom. The stem is channelled and villous, and the foliage is finely divided into strips. The inflorescence is a slightly convex flat corymb, held well above the foliage. It is composed of numerous small flower heads. When dried, the flowers remain decorative long after summer and can be dried outdoors and in the shade for creating dry bouquets. By regularly removing faded inflorescences, the flowering is very perpetual. It prefers fresh, light and not too rich soils, but it also tolerates calcareous soils, dry soils in summer and less sunny exposures. Heavy, waterlogged soils should be avoided.

As a hardy and undemanding perennial, 'Schneetaler' Yarrow fits well in a dry meadow with golden grasses, the airy blooms of gauras, and blue catmints. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, consider using it to dress the base of shrubs or to border a sunny bed. In a sunny border, plant it with light orange flowers of geum, raspberry and white shrub salvias, wine-red monardas, and blue geraniums. Combine it with slender silhouettes to enhance the horizontal aspect of its umbels.

The plant has recognized medicinal properties: it is hemostatic, the leaves have healing properties, and the flowers have a stimulating, tonic, and febrifuge effect when used in high concentration. The bitter-tasting young shoots can be harvested in spring and consumed sparingly in salads, sauces, or as sandwich condiments. In some regions, it is used to flavour beers. Yarrow tea is effective against oily skin.

Yarrow owes its name to the Greek hero Achilles, who is said to have discovered its medicinal properties by using it to treat the wounds of soldiers during the Trojan War.