Achillea ageratifolia explained

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 20cm (10inches) 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.[1] The narrow grey-green foliage resembles that of a related genus Ageratum, hence the Latin specific epithet ageratifolia.[2] The solitary, daisy-like composite flower heads are white with yellow centres and about 2–3 cm across.[3] They appear May–July in the northern hemisphere.[4]

Cultivation

In cultivation in the UK, this plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] An adaptable plant, it prefers a sunny, open position. It is hardy down to -10 to -15 degrees C. It is also drought tolerant and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3–8.[6] Common problems include aphids and downy mildew.[7]

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1813 as Anthemis ageratifolia by James Edward Smith in Florae Graecae,[8] but was transferred to the genus Achillea by George Bentham & Joseph Hooker in 1873. 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.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Strid, Arne . Tan, Kit . Mountain flora of Greece . 1986 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] . 0-7486-0207-0 . 434.
  2. Book: Harrison, Lorraine . RHS Latin for Gardeners . 2012 . Mitchell Beazley . United Kingdom . 978-1845337315 .
  3. Web site: Achillea ageratifolia. 2021-03-25. D'arcy and Everest. en-US.
  4. Web site: Achillea ageratifolia. 2021-03-25. Ballyrobert Gardens. en.
  5. Web site: Achillea ageratifolia. RHS. 30 December 2017.
  6. Web site: Achillea ageratifolia - Plant Finder. 2021-03-25. www.missouribotanicalgarden.org.
  7. Web site: Shoot. Achillea ageratifolia Greek yarrow Balkan yarrow Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice. 2021-03-25. www.shootgardening.co.uk. en.
  8. Smith, J.E. (1813) Fl. Graec. Prodr. 2(1): 191