A bud/branch sport is possible but would be relatively rare.

Assuming you mean Achillea millefolium, it's not a native. Would love to see a pic of the plant in question, though.

"Assuming you mean Achillea millefolium, it's not a native."

In North America, I think this depends where you live. The Canadian reference books I have list A. millefolium (or at least some of its subspecies) as native:

- The Flora of the Yukon
- Budd's Flora of the Canadian Prairie Provinces
- The Flora of Alberta... lists 3 subspecies, 2 native, 1 introduced.
- The Flora of Canada lists the Eurasian form as found in southern regions of North America
- Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and Aspen Parkland lists the plant as native, and furthermore lists traditional uses of the plant by the Cree, and the Chipewyan tribes.

If you check the plants.usda.gov site, you are both correct.

I must say that as an herbalist when I refer to Achillea millefolium I am referring to the Eur-Asian non-native plant.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: plants.usda.gov - Achillea millefolium

Interesting. When I looked at the same resource I landed at this page. Are these different plants? What is the difference?

The page I referenced is the top level Achillea millefoium page. The others, like the page you referenced (Achillea millefolium L. var. millefolium), are for varieties or subspecies. I apologize upfront if I used the wrong botanical terminology, which I may have. But if you look at the page I referenced, some of the subspecies like the Achillea millefolium L. var. alpicola are noted as being a native plant while the Achillea millefolium L. var. millefolium is noted as being introduced.

Seems Achillea millefolium is a tricky one. Since I've always thought of Achillea millefolium in regards to the Eur-Asian species, I would have made the same mistake until I dug into it a little more.

FataMorgana

Appreciate the info. It seems you never know if you've "dug all the way down" until somebody tells you you didn't. LOL! Thanks!