Achillea ageratifolia
Species of yarrow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Achillea ageratifolia, the Balkan yarrow or Greek yarrow, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae.
| Achillea ageratifolia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Achillea |
| Species: | A. ageratifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Achillea ageratifolia | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Description
Growing to 20 centimetres (8 in) tall and broad, it is a compact herbaceous perennial. It is a highly variable species, with three recognized subspecies. They have erect, simple, somewhat woody-based stems.[4] The narrow grey-green foliage resembles that of a related genus Ageratum, hence the Latin specific epithet ageratifolia.[5]
The solitary, daisy-like composite flower heads are white with yellow centres and about 2–3 cm across.[6] They appear May–July in the Northern Hemisphere.[7]
Taxonomy
It was first described in 1813 as Anthemis ageratifolia by James Edward Smith in Florae Graecae,[1][8] but in 1873 was transferred to the genus Achillea by George Bentham and Joseph Hooker.[1][2]
The genus name refers to the Ancient Greek hero Achilles, who is said to have used yarrow leaves to stop his soldiers' wounds from bleeding.[9] The specific epithet refers to similarity of the foliage to that of Ageratum.[5]
Distribution
It is native to Bulgaria and Greece.[citation needed]
Cultivation
In cultivation in the UK, this plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10] An adaptable plant, it prefers a sunny, open position. It is hardy down to -10 to -15 degrees C.[7] It is also drought tolerant and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3–8.[9] Common problems include aphids and downy mildew.[11]
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