Yarrow Achillea 'Heidi'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Achillea 'Heidi' is a flowering perennial known for its vibrant and showy clusters of flowers. Its blossoms typically come in a charming shade of deep pink, which adds a splash of color to gardens and attracts various pollinators. The flower heads are composed of many tiny, densely-packed flowers that create a flat-topped appearance, often referred to as umbels. The plant exhibits fern-like foliage that is fragrant when crushed or brushed against. The leaves are typically a deep green color and have a feathery, finely dissected texture that adds a soft, intricate aspect to the overall aesthetic of the plant. Despite the delicate look of the leaves, they are quite hardy. 'Achillea Heidi' blooms generously through the summer months and often into early fall, providing a long-lasting display of color. The plant is also known for its sturdy, upright stems that hold the flower clusters aloft, ensuring they remain visible and prominent in garden settings. These characteristics make it a popular choice for borders, rock gardens, and cottage gardens, where it can be paired with other perennials to create a picturesque and harmonious landscape.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Yarrow, Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Nosebleed Plant, Devil's Nettle
- Common names
  Achillea 'Heidi'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Yarrow (Achillea 'Heidi') is not highly toxic to humans, but it does contain substances that can have adverse effects, especially if consumed in large quantities. Eating parts of the plant may lead to mild digestive upset, and can also cause increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, which might result in dermatitis. Ingesting large amounts could potentially result in more severe symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and headache. However, yarrow is also used in traditional medicine, so it is important to understand the difference between use as an herb in controlled amounts and accidental or unintentional ingestion.
- To pets
  Yarrow (Achillea 'Heidi') is considered to be only mildly toxic to pets. If a pet ingests yarrow, it may experience mild vomiting or diarrhea. The toxicity is generally low, and serious effects are uncommon, but it's always best to watch for any unusual behavior and consult with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has consumed a large amount of the plant. As with any non-food plant, it's prudent to prevent pets from ingesting yarrow to avoid potential digestive upset.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  2 feet (0.61 meters)
- Spread
  2 feet (0.61 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: Achillea 'Heidi' is known for its ability to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden.
- Drought tolerant: Once established, this yarrow variety is highly drought-resistant, requiring minimal watering.
- Ease of care: 'Heidi' is known for being low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Long blooming period: It produces flowers for an extended period, usually from early summer to early fall, providing long-lasting color in the landscape.
- Deer and rabbit resistant: The plant's natural compounds make it unappealing to deer and rabbits, reducing the risk of damage from these animals.
- Soil adaptability: It can thrive in a wide range of soil types, including poor soils, as long as they are well-draining.
- Landscape versatility: 'Heidi' can be used in a variety of garden settings such as borders, rock gardens, and as ground cover.
Medical Properties
- Anti-inflammatory: Achillea 'Heidi' contains compounds that may help reduce inflammation.
- Antiseptic: The plant has been traditionally used for its antiseptic properties to prevent infections.
- Antispasmodic: It is believed to help relieve spasms in the digestive tract.
- Astringent: The astringent quality of the plant makes it useful for toning tissues and stopping bleeding.
- Carminative: It may help in relieving gastrointestinal issues like gas and bloating.
- Emmenagogue: Achillea 'Heidi' has been traditionally used to encourage menstrual flow.
- Hemostatic: The plant may help in reducing or stopping bleeding.
- Vulnerary: It can be applied externally to help heal wounds and cuts.
Please note that while Achillea 'Heidi' has been traditionally used for these purposes, the safety and efficacy for medical use require scientific validation, and it should not substitute professional medical advice or treatment.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Dye Production: Yarrow can be used to produce a range of colors on wool, from yellow to green, depending on the mordant used.
- Companion Planting: Yarrow attracts beneficial insects and can enhance the growth and flavor of crops when used as a companion plant in the garden.
- Natural Fertilizer: When used as a green manure or added to compost, yarrow can enrich soil with nutrients.
- Plant Stabilization: Yarrow's deep roots can help stabilize soil and control erosion on slopes or in challenging garden areas.
- Crafts and Flower Arrangements: Fresh or dried yarrow flowers can be used in floral arrangements, wreaths, and other decorative crafts.
- Biodynamic Preparations: Yarrow is used in some biodynamic farming practices to make herbal preparations that enhance soil quality and plant health.
- Insect Repellent: When planted in the garden or used in dried form, yarrow can naturally repel certain insects.
- Livestock Feed: Though not common, yarrow can be mixed into the feed of some livestock for its nutrients when other feed options are scarce.
- Soil Health Indicator: The presence of yarrow in the wild can indicate that the soil is in good health, making it useful for biotic assessments.
- Eco-Friendly Lawn Alternative: Yarrow can be used to create a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and eco-friendly lawn substitute.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Yarrow is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Yarrow is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Healing and Restoration: Named after the mythical Greek hero Achilles, Achillea is known for its historical use in healing wounds, which reflects its symbolic meaning of recovery and restoration of health.
- Protection: Due to its association with Achilles, who was known for his strength and invulnerability except for his heel, Achillea 'Heidi' can also symbolize protection and defense against harm.
- Spiritual Clarity: Achillea is also used in divination and is believed to provide clarity. It thus symbolizes the pursuit of spiritual or psychological insight.
- Endurance and Resilience: Achillea plants are hardy and can thrive in challenging conditions, making them symbols of endurance and the ability to persist through hardships.
- Love and Devotion: In the language of flowers, Achillea can represent love and a bond that does not waver, likely due to its resilient nature.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Not needed

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-early summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Yarrow, commonly known as Achillea 'Heidi', should be watered deeply but infrequently to mimic its natural preference for well-draining soil. During the growing season, water your yarrow with approximately 1 inch of water every week, ensuring that the soil has a chance to dry out between watering sessions. Overwatering or allowing the plant to sit in waterlogged soil can lead to root rot, so it's important to ensure good drainage. Adjust watering during extreme heat or drought, and reduce frequency in cooler months as the plant requires less moisture. Typically, a yarrow plant will need around 0.5 gallons of water per square foot each month during its active growth.
Light
Yarrow thrives best in full sun conditions, where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. The ideal spot for Achillea 'Heidi' would be in an area that has unobstructed exposure to sunlight for the majority of the day. If planted in too much shade, yarrow won't bloom as vigorously and its stems can become weak and floppy.
Temperature
Yarrow is hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. It can survive minimal temperatures down to about -30 degrees Fahrenheit but thrives in areas where the temperature ranges between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during its growing season. Extreme heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit can sometimes stress the plant, so providing some afternoon shade during the hottest days of summer can be beneficial.
Pruning
Pruning yarrow, or Achillea 'Heidi', is important for maintaining a neat appearance and encouraging healthy growth. Prune back the spent flowers to promote a second bloom. After the first killing frost, cut the plant back to about 2 to 3 inches above ground level. Yarrow should be pruned at least once a year, mainly during the late fall or early winter.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Yarrow 'Heidi' thrives in well-drained soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. The best soil mix should include garden loam, compost, and sharp sand to improve drainage. Regular garden soil can be amended with organic matter and gravel or perlite to ensure it does not retain too much moisture, which can lead to root rot.
Repotting
Yarrow 'Heidi' typically does not need frequent repotting as it is often grown as a perennial outdoor plant. Repotting should be done every 2-3 years or when the plant has outgrown its current container or the soil has become depleted of nutrients.
Humidity & Misting
Yarrow 'Heidi' is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not require high humidity. This plant prefers a drier environment and is quite adaptable to typical outdoor humidity conditions.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Provide full sun, well-drained soil, and limited water.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil, and space adequately.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Achillea 'Heidi', commonly known as Yarrow 'Heidi', begins its life as a seed, typically sown in spring or early summer. Upon germination, the seedling develops a rosette of feathery foliage close to the ground. As the plant matures, upright stems emerge from the rosette, producing finely divided, aromatic leaves. The Yarrow 'Heidi' reaches the flowering stage in early to mid-summer, showcasing dense clusters of small, fragrant flowers, which can be pink, red, or white. These blooms attract a variety of pollinators before eventually setting seed. The plant may then go dormant in winter, especially in colder climates, before resuming growth in the following spring, completing its perennial life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-early summer
- Propogation: The ideal propagation time for Achillea 'Heidi', commonly known as Yarrow, is in the spring or early summer when the plant's natural growth cycle is most active. The most popular method for propagating Yarrow is by division. To do this, gently dig up an established plant and separate the clump into smaller sections, ensuring each new section has a portion of the root system. This should be done every 2-3 years to maintain the plant's vigor. Replant the divisions into well-drained soil, spacing them about 1 to 2 feet apart to allow enough room for growth. Water the new plants thoroughly after planting and they should establish quickly as they adapt well to various conditions.