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Achillea

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Achillea is a group of flowering plants. Many people call them yarrows. These plants are part of the Asteraceae family. They grow in many places around the world. You can find them in North America. They also grow in Europe and Asia. These plants are very useful for gardens.

Most Achillea have very special leaves. The leaves look frilly and feel hairy. They also have a strong, aromatic smell. At the top of the stem, flowers grow in large, flat clusters. These small flowers come in many colors. They can be white, yellow, orange, pink, or red. Many insects visit these flowers to help them grow.

The name for this group comes from an old story. It is named after a Greek hero named Achilles. Legend says his soldiers used yarrow to treat wounds. Because of this, people gave the plant other names. Some call it allheal. Others call it bloodwort.

A scientist named Carl Linnaeus described these plants in 1753. He wrote about them in a book called Species Plantarum. Today, there are nearly 1,000 names for these plants. Some names are for whole species. Other names are for smaller types like subspecies. Scientists use a list from the Kew Botanic Gardens to keep track.

Achillea plants are very helpful to nature. Some small worms, called larvae, use them for food. Many people also love to grow them in their own yards. Some special types win awards for being great garden plants. One award comes from the Royal Horticultural Society. Examples include 'Moonshine' and 'Summerwine'.

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