I didn't know anything about yarrow until I bought some 8 yrs ago. I have bought several varieties, so far, the most impressive ones are "Gold Plate". These plants have not done any flopping and make an extremely sturdy clump. While I love the color of Paprika and Walter Funke, I am unlikely to order more of them because they have proven to be rather weedy and floppy. I agree w/ the opinion above, to look them up before ordering, also try cutting them back- why not...it's an option. Good luck.

Q: Yarrow: is it possible to control spreading? A: Yes, plant it in my yard! Heavy damp to wet clay soil contains even the millefoliums for me. I have Terracotta, Fireland, Moonshine, Cerise Queen, Paprika and Appleblossom. All have been well-behaved. Individual Moonshine plants have become larger but provided no seedlings and are definite clumpers here. They have been in the garden for 8 years without problems. The other varieties have spread moderately over the years (5 years or longer), but only in their immediate planting area. Appleblossom which was planted in what I thought was a rather dry area in my lower garden had a hard time growing at all (always slow to start in spring and with weak seasonal growth). After 4 seasons, it did not return this spring.

Nancy, Gee, never heard of that but you never know. It may apply to some extent. We'll see if this year's seeds do something. I just sowed a flat of 2 liter pop bottles and 4 of them were the yarrows. Saved a few seeds for a later sowing in the spring just in case. PV & Ellen, I did something last year that I will be repeating simply because I liked it and it filled some of my containers on the deck. I took some perennial sprouts, planted them in 4 inch pots, then planted the pots in some of those long rectangular planters. Not sure why but those Echinaceas and Buddleias took right off and by the time I removed them to plant in the holding beds in the fall, their roots had gone right into the soil of the huge planters. I was amazed at their growth! Never fed them anything. I'm wondering if the double potting had anything to do with it. I got the rectangular planters on G Day and hope there are many more out there this year. :O) The foliage of Yarrow would look nice in one of those.

It looks like yarrow to me. Flowers are usually white, pink or red. Leaves are used in the early stages of a cold or flu. They are excellent when crushed and placed on a wound to stop bleeding. Also used to treat mild depression, high blood pressure, scanty menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain and mild cystitis. Often used to treat asthma and diarrhoea in children. Good for the circulation of blood and for treating fever, rapid heartbeat and inflammations. Use as a gargle for sore throat and as a tea and external salve to ease the discomfort of chicken pox and measles. Improves the appetite. Excellent for treating varicose veins, thrombosis and acne. In a bath, it eases itchy skin conditions and as a footbath, it eases aching feet. As a douche, it is used to treat yeast infections, help stop secretions and haemorrhages. Combined with rosemary and peppermint, it makes a good hair wash to treat dandruff and falling hair. Other Uses: Use dried flowers in crafts and floral arrangements. It is also an ingredient in many herbal cosmetics as an astringent and cleanser suitable for oily skins. Flowers produce various shades of white and yellow dye with an alum mordant. The whole plant produces shades of grey to black or olive green with iron mordant. Add to a compost heap to accelerate decomposition. When grown in the garden, it helps other plants nearby to become more resistant to disease. After drying, the stems can be burned as incense to discourage mosquitoes. Warning: Do not use when pregnant or for more than 2 weeks. Excessive doses are toxic. Allergies to yarrow are common and sensitivity increases with use. May cause photosensitivity, contact dermatitis and other allergic reactions such as headache and vertigo. May cause urine to appear brownish but this is no cause for alarm. When cows eat yarrow, their milk develops an unpleasant taste. Yarrow interferes with the absorption of iron and other minerals. Excessive doses may interfere with existing anticoagulant and hypo- or hypertensive therapies. Caution should be exercised by epileptic patients.