Yarrow

Spotlight on a plant ally

Achillea millefolium

In this first blogpost I thought I'd share about our lovely native yarrow, Achillea millefolium, which grows so abundantly around Lyons and is the plant featured in our logo.

Yarrow, a member of the aster family, is closely related to chrysanthemums and chamomile. It flourishes in a sunny and warm habitat, and can be found in meadows and along roadsides, as well as on dry, sunny slopes. It grows as a simple, upright, and hairy stem, usually under 3 feet. The flowers are typically white here in Colorado, but either pink or pale purple flowers are common in some mountain areas. The petals are densely arranged in flattened clusters, and the leaves look like feathers.  

Also known as Soldier's Woundwort, who  or Carpenter's Weed, yarrow has a notable history in traditional herbalism, including Native American, European and Chinese medicine, where it's been used for its potential to support digestive and respiratory health, wound healing, and relieving stomach and menstrual cramps. It's one of my go-to herbs each month when I have cramps, along with native bee's balm. I like to keep both growing nearby so I can pick it directly from the plant when flowering, and I always have a good stock of dried yarrow. 

Bringing in a little mythology, yarrow's Latin name Achillea millefolium is named for the Greek hero Achilles, whose mother Thetis dipped him in the yarrow-laced water of the river Styx. The healing power of yarrow is what made him physically invincible (except, of course that pesky tendon where he was held while being dipped). 

If you would like to experience this magic plant yourself, we carry a few items with yarrow, including:

• Dried Yarrow Flowers - Bulk Herbs

• Yarrow Essential Oil

• Yarrow Tincture

• Respiratory Relief Tincture, which includes yarrow, along with usnea, horehound, and wild cherry

We also have a selection of books on herbs that grow here in Colorado, all of which feature this incredible ally.