Achillea ageratifolia

Achillea ageratifolia, the Balkan yarrow or Greek yarrow, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to Bulgaria and Greece. Growing to 20 cm (7.9 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]

Achillea ageratifolia
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Anthemis ageratifolia Sm.
  • Ptarmica ageratifolia (Sm.) Nyman

Cultivation

In cultivation in the UK, this plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[8] 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.[10]

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1813 as Anthemis ageratifolia by James Edward Smith in Florae Graecae,[1][11] but was transferred to the genus Achillea by George Bentham & Joseph Hooker in 1873.[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]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Achillea ageratifolia.
  1. "Achillea ageratifolia". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  2. Bentham, G.; Hooker, J.D. (1873). "Anthemideae". Genera Plantarum. 2 (1): 419.
  3. The Plant List, Achillea ageratifolia (Sibth. & Sm.) Benth. & Hook.f.
  4. Strid, Arne; Tan, Kit (1986). Mountain flora of Greece. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press. p. 434. ISBN 0-7486-0207-0.
  5. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
  6. "Achillea ageratifolia". D'arcy and Everest. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  7. "Achillea ageratifolia". Ballyrobert Gardens. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  8. "Achillea ageratifolia". RHS. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  9. "Achillea ageratifolia - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  10. Shoot. "Achillea ageratifolia Greek yarrow Balkan yarrow Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice". www.shootgardening.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  11. Smith,J.E. (1813) Fl. Graec. Prodr. 2(1): 191
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