Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
A. millefolium var. occidentalis, A.lanulosa
Other common names
western yarrow
woolly yarrow
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 to 36 inches
Riparian
Yes
A common wildflower with fern-like leaves and creeping rhizomes and aromatic highly dissected leaves.
Slender creeping rhizomes; aromatic, pinnately dissected, fern-like leaves; heads of small white flowers on stems rising above the basal leaves, 5 to 8 ray florets, the whorl of bracts 20 to 30 in 3 series.
Habitat
Found in mountains, especially pine forests. Pastures, meadows, roadsides, stream sides, waste grounds, dry or sandy soils, also in clay or salty soils.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
11500
Flower Characteristics
Flower head is a flat cluster of 5 to 20 densely packed, white or sometimes pink flower heads. The individual flowers have 5 to 8 white or light pink ray flowers surrounding a tiny center of white or grayish white disc flowers.
Flower color
White, rarely pink
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Fern-like, finely divided, feathery leaves, 4 to 6 inches long. The lower leaves are stalked, upper leaves are not stalked. The leaves have a strong aroma and are smaller towards the top of the stem. The stem is hairy.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Light green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes with thick margins, compressed , bristles and chafe absent.
Fruit type
Achene