Yarrow is a plant with ancient roots and a name steeped in myth. Native across Europe, Asia, and North America, it was once carried by soldiers into battle to staunch wounds, earning its nickname “herbal militaris” and linking it forever with the Greek hero Achilles, who is said to have used it on the Trojan fields. Its feathery, fern‑like leaves spread close to the ground, while clusters of tiny, tightly packed flowers rise in flat umbels above—white in the wild, but cultivated in shades from soft pastels to rich russets.

Yarrow thrives where life is tough: in meadows, roadsides, and rocky hills, enduring drought and poor soil. In folk traditions, it was planted at thresholds to ward off ill will, and its stems were once used for divination in the I Ching.