EMILY de CAMP HERBARIUM

COMMON NAME: Yarrow
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Thousand Leaf, Soldier’s-Woundwort, Carpenter’s Grass, Nosebleed Plant, Noble Yarrow, Dog-Daisy
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Achillea millefolium
FAMILY: Asteraceae
COMMUNITY: Edge
STATUS: Native
LIFESPAN: Perennial
HEIGHT: 1 to 3 feet
FLOWERTING TIME: Late May to Late November
FRUITING TIME: July to November
DISTRIBUTION: Statewide in NJ
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Flowerheads with 5 petal-like rays in flat topped clusters ~ Leaves alternate, narrow, woolly, grayish-green, aromatic ~ Hairy

GENERAL INFORMATION: This large family (Asteraceae), commonly called the Aster Family, consists of 1,314 genera and 21,000 species of herbs, shrubs, climbers and a few trees is found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions. The plants are of value to man as ornamentals; a few are insecticides and fish poisons.

The genus Achillea, mean “Of Achilles”. Achilles is said to have cured his warriors with Thousand Leaf, an old name for Yarrow. Napoleon carried a supply of Yarrow to stop bleeding from war injuries. In the American Civil War, the crushed plant was applied to battle wounds to stop bleeding and relieve pain of open wounds. Thus, the name Soldier’s Woundwort.

The 1998 edition of the Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines reports that yarrow can be used internally for loss of appetite, digestive complaints, liveR and gallbladder complaints. Externally, it can be used to treat wounds.

In the late 1700s, headache was treated by thrusting a leaf up a nostril to make the nose bleed. In old England, if a boy put the leaf of a Yarrow in the nose, turned it “thrice round”, and if the nose bleeds, he was sure to get his sweetheart. According to folklore, balding can be prevented by regularly washing the head with yarrow tea.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails. This information is presented for educational purposes.