Achillea millefolium

When common yarrow grows in a dense patch, its finely-divided leaves form a lush carpet, like some kind of giant moss. Spreading via underground stems, the plant readily forms colonies which can function as a groundcover. Indeed, due to its ability to tolerate mowing, common yarrow is sometimes utilized as a lawn substitute. When left uncut, the plant grows to approximately 2 feet tall and produces flat-topped clusters of small white flowers which bloom for an exceptionally long time (June through August). The plant’s flowers are especially attractive to pollinators with predatory or parasitic life stages, including tachinid flies, hover flies, wasps, and lady beetles. For this reason, common yarrow is quite valuable as a companion planting to vegetable gardens, where its insect visitors help control pest bugs such as aphids, thrips, stink bugs, and some caterpillar species. With a bloom period that starts fairly early in the year, common yarrow can help attract beneficial insects in a