Achillea millefolium Tutti Frutti 'Pomegranate'

Sizes available: #1 (Trade gallon) - easily dividable

Basics: zones 4-8, 20" x 12-18", full sun to part shade, Magenta-ish red bloom in mid to late summer, prefers well-drained and not overly rich soil, adaptable and drought tolerant once established

Common names: Yarrow, Milfoil, Carpenter's Weed, Bloodwort, Knight's Milfoil, Staunchweed, Soldier's Woundwort, Nosebleed, Old Man's Pepper, Field Hop, Bad Man's Plaything, Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Herbe de St. Joseph, Arrowroot, Death Flower, Eerie, Hundred-leaved Grass, Knyghtn, Old Man's Mustard, Sanguinary, Seven-year's Love, Snake's Grass, Soldier, Thousand Leaf (the Wikipedia entry for Achillea millefolium is fascinating)

Family: Asteraceae

Origin/Distribution: The species Achillea millefolium is native to Europe, western parts of  Asia, and North America; has been introduced in New Zealand and Australia

Habitat: grasslands, open woodlands

More: Achilleas are deer and rabbit resistant and salt tolerant. They attract numerous pollinators and make good cut flowers both fresh and dried. Many moths and beetles use yarrow as a host plant. The species has a long history of medicinal use, including the staunching of wounds. The flowers and leaves are used to flavor certain liquors and bitters and yarrow was a component in flavoring beer prior to the use of hops. This plant can cause contact dermatitis in some people.

Some Neanderthal burials have included yarrow. That's a 60,000 year relationship between us and Achillea millefolium.

Nursery: Van Berkum

Image credit: Royal Horticultural Society; illustration of Achillea from Wikimedia Commons