Growing

Agrimony is grown throughout much of the United States and southern Canada. It is a perennial that reaches 2 to 3 feet tall, prefers full sun and average soils. Agrimony tolerates dry spells well.

The yellow, star-shaped blossoms of Agrimonia eupatoria, an herb found throughout the northern hemisphere,

Agrimony herb consists of the dried, above-ground parts of Agrimonia eupatoria L. and/or A. procera Wallroth [Fam. Rosaceae], harvested shortly before or during flowering, or equivalent preparations in effective dosage.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a perennial plant with yellow flowers. The plant can grow up to 4 feet in height and its tough, fleshy, spearlike leaves can grow up to 20 inches long.

Growing

Best grown indoors in pots. Those living in the deep South, as in southern Texas or southern Florida, can grow aloe outdoors. Remember that Aloe is a succulent, not a cactus, so it needs water to keep the leaves fleshy and juicy.

Care

Keep in sandy soil that is well drained. Potted plants need filtered sun or full shade.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa grows to about 3 feet and has blue- violet flowers that bloom from July to SeptemberIt is a perennial herb that grows throughout the world in a variety of climates.

Growing

Alfalfa is cultivated in many regions of the world. It is not picky as to soils, prefers full sun, and regular waterings, although it will tolerate dry spells. It is a perennial that grows to 1 to 3 feet tall, depending upon growing conditions

Allspice

Allspice comes from a tree that grows in Central and South America and the Caribbean, and prefers those climates.

Amaranth

Amaranth is an annual, whose varieties grow from one to five feet tall. It does not transplant well, so sow it where you want it to grow. It is generally not picky about soil type, and tolerates heat and drought well.

Angelica

Angelica needs rich, moist garden soil in partial shade. It prefers wet bottomlands and swamps, and prefers the cooler northern regions to grow best. It is a perennial that can reach up to 6 feet tall.

Anise

Anise likes warm, sunny areas with well-drained, rich sandy soils. It is suitable for all areas of North America. It is an annual, and grows 1-2 feet high. It needs 120 days to produce fully ripened seed heads.

Arnica

The arnica plant has a bright yellow, daisy-like flower that blooms around July.

The horizontal, dark brown, branched rootstock sends up a slightly hairy, simple or lightly branched stem that reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet. The basal leaves are oblong-ovate and short-petaled the upper leaves are smaller and sessile. Each plant has one to nine large, yellow, daisy-like flowerheads whose rays are notched on the outer tips. The flowers appear from June to August.Arnica is a perennial that is protected in parts of Europe.

Arnica is a perennial that grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet with yellow-orange flowers similar to daisies. Stems are round and hairy, ending in one to three flower stalks, with flowers 2 to 3 inches across. Leaves are bright green; the upper surfaces are toothed and slightly hairy while lower leaves have rounded tips. It is native to the mountains of Europe and Siberia, and cultivated in North America.

Astragalus

Astragalus is a perennial plant, approximately 16 inches tall having hairy stems with leaves made up of 12-18 pairs of leaflets. The root is usually harvested from 4-year-old plants.

Basil

Basil will grow in any well-drained, fairly rich soil, and full sun. It is an annual, which reaches 2-3 feet tall. Pinch off the tips to promote bushiness and flower buds to maintain growth.

Barberry

Barberry is a shrub with gray, thorny branches that can grow to about nine feet in height. Bright yellow flowers bloom between the months of April and June and become dark, drooping bunches of red berries in the fall. The ripe berries can be used to make jam. Barberries are sourer but less bitter than cranberries. Both the berries and the bark are used for medicinal purposes.

Bergamot

Bergamot grows to 2 feet tall, and is a member of the mint family, so grow it as you would a mint.

Bilberry

Bilberry is a shrub that grows to about 16 inches in height. It has oval, pointed leaves and small pink and white flowers, which bloom from April through June. In the late summer, its dark purple berries are ripe to pick. Bilberry is a relative of blueberry, cranberry, and huckleberry, and its fruit looks and tastes much like the American blueberry.

Growing

Grows in moist, sandy soil with adequate drainage. Likes full sun.

Care

Prefers filtered shade and moist, fertile soil that is acidic and non calcareous.

Bladderwrack

Best found in stores, as this is a seaweed that grows in the ocean.

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh is a perennial which reaches 3 - 8 feet tall Black cohosh is a tall, flowering plant found in rich, shady woods in eastern areas of North AmericaBlack cohosh is a tall, flowering plant found in rich, shady woods in eastern areas of North America.

Growing

It needs good soil and partial to mostly shade to do well. It has been grown as far south as Georgia, and as far west as Missouri.

Blue Cohosh

Blue Cohosh grows best in deep, loamy, moist woodlands.

Boneset

Boneset prefers damp to moist rich soils that reaches 2 to 4 feet high, and grows in partial sun.

Burdock

Burdock is a common weed native to Europe and Northern Asia and is now widespread throughout the United States as well. A member of the thistle family, burdock is a stout, common weed with hooked bracts (leaf-like part of the plant) or burrs that adhere to clothing or animal fur.

The burdock plant grows to a maximum height of approximately three to four feet. It has purple flowers that bloom between the months of June and October. Burdock has alternate (meaning that the leaves grow on both sides of the stem at alternating levels), wavy, heart-shaped leaves that are green on the top and whitish on the bottom. The deep roots (used primarily for medicinal purposes) are brownish-green, or nearly black on the outside.

Growing

Burdock grows well in the wild. It thrives in light, well-drained soil. Herbalists usually collect burdock leaves during the first year of growth, and harvest the roots in the fall of the first year after planting (or during the following spring before the flowers bloom).

Californian Poppy

There are many annual varieties of Poppies, but the perennial ones are most commonly used for healing.

Growing

Poppies are perennials that like poor to average soils that tend toward dryness. There are varieties that will grow most anywhere in North America. Their foliage tends to die off by July, after a spectacular showing of flowers in the spring, but the foliage begins rejuvenation around September, which waits until spring to begin growing again.

Cat's Claw

This vine gets its name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves, which looks like a cat's claw. These claws enable the vine to attach itself around trees climbing to a heights up to 100 feet.

Cayenne Pepper

The plants like a good, rich soil, plenty of water, and full sun. The peppers are dried after ripening.

Celery Seed

Celery seeds come from the same plant whose stalks we've all eaten and cooked with. If you've never seen the stalks in their natural habitat, the celery plant is slender and stands about two to three feet tall. It has three to five segmented leaves, and flowers with small white petals. The seeds come from the flowers, are very small, are tan to dark brown, and have a strong, pleasant smell. The celery plant is slender and stands about two to three feet tall. It has three to five segmented leaves, and flowers with small white petals. Celery seeds, which are found in the flowers, are very small, tan to dark brown, and have a strong, pleasant smell.

Chamomile

Chamomile is an annual that adapts to most soils, likes lots of water and full sun. It grows up to 20 inches tall.

Chaste Tree

It is a small shrub or tree native to Asia and Europe. It has been introduced in the United States, and has naturalized throughout the southeast, as far north as Maryland. It typically grows 9 to 16 feet tall, but may grow larger in the warm areas of the deep south.

Chickweed

This annual spreading plant is usually hated as an obnoxious weed by the typical gardener. It is found throughout temperate areas of North America and of Europe, the plant's native homeland. It prefers full sun, average to poor soils, and infrequent watering.

Dandelion

Dandelion is a common yard, garden, and roadside weed. Do not gather where chemicals have been used, and don't gather those near roadsides, as they have been contaminated from exhausts.

Dong Quai

Dong Quai is a member of the celery family. Greenish-white flowers bloom from May to August, and the plant is typically found growing in damp mountain ravines, meadows, river banks, and coastal areas. The root is used in herbal medicine

Growing

Dong quai grows at high altitudes in the cold, damp, mountain regions of China, Korea and Japan. This fragrant, perennial plant has smooth purplish stems and bears umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers and winged fruits in July and August. The yellowish-brown thick-branched roots of the dong quai plant have a number of medicinal uses. It takes three years for the plant to reach maturity, after which time the root is harvested and formulated into tablets, powders, and other medicinal forms.

Echinacea

Echinacea has tall stems, bears single flowers that are pink or purple, and has a central cone that is usually purplish-brown in color. The large cone is actually a seed head with sharp spines that resemble a stiff comb. Of nine echinacea species, only three are used for medicinal purposes (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea).

Growing

Echinacea likes the prairies and other open, dry places. It adapts to most soils, in full sun, except wet ones. It grows over most of North America. It is a perennial, and reaches to about 2 feet tall. The root is used ground, and the leaves are used for teas.

Care

Full sun or light shade in hotter climates. Can grow in fairly poor and dry soil.

Elderberry

Elderberry The American elder (canadensis) , also known as Elderberry, is small tree that grows to 12 feet and is native to North America. The European elder (nigra) grows to 30 feet,

Growing

Elder is a tree or shrub, growing to 30 feet tall. It prefers moist areas throughout North America. The leaves, bark, and roots of the American varieties generally contain poisonous alkaloids and should not be used internally.

Care

Prefers sandy or loamy soil rich in humus and nitrogen. Full sun or partial shade

Elecampane


Elecampane enjoys roadsides and damp fields and pastures. Plant it in full sun in a damp, but not soggy, location. It is a perennial that grows 3 - 6 feet tall. The root is most commonly used.

Evening Primrose

Some nurseries sell evening primrose, but they are actually a small, showy hybrid of the perennial Missouri Primrose, and does not have the same medicinal uses, so be sure you are buying the plant you really want.

Growing

The American variety. It enjoys dry soils and full sun. It is a biennial, and grows 3 - 6 feet tall. The seed oil is the most commonly used portion of the plant.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is native to Australia, where it is the primary food in the diet of koala bears. Today, eucalyptus is grown in There are many species of eucalyptus. Some are the size of an ornamental shrub, and some grow to be giant trees. The type of eucalyptus that is most often used medicinally is called blue gum or Australian fever tree. It can grow as high as 230 feet. Its 4- to 12-inch leaves are dark green and shiny. Its blue-gray bark peels to reveal a cream-colored inner bark.

Eyebright

Eyebright is adaptable to many soil types in full sun. It is a small annual, growing 2 - 8 inches high. It attaches itself by underground suckers to the roots of neighboring grass plants and takes its nutrients from them. To be cultivated, it must be given nurse plants on whose roots it can feed.

False Unicorn

False Unicorn grows primarily in very moist areas, in partially shady areas, throughout North America.

Fennel

Fennel prefers dry, sunny areas. It is a perennial that can reach 4 - 6 feet high, and grows in most average to poor soils.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek likes dry, moderately fertile soil in a sunny location. It is an annual, and grows to 1 - 3 feet tall.

Feverfew

Feverfew bears a resemblance to chamomile. It prefers dry places, will tolerate poor soil, and is a hardy biennial or perennial, growing to 2 1/2 feet. It prefers full sun.

Growing

Feverfew is a hearty perennial that will produce an abundant supply of blossoms. It prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained average soil.

Garlic

Garlic is a perennial herb that likes moderate soil and lots of sun and warmth. The plant grows to 2 feet tall. The bulb is the most common used portion, although the greens are often used in salads. Garlic is a perennial that can grow two feet high or more. The most important part of this plant for medicinal purposes is the compound bulb. Each bulb is made up of 4 to 20 cloves, and each clove weighs about 1 gram.

Care

A perennial bulb that grows in warm climates worldwide. Prefers rich soil and full sun.

Ginger

Ginger grows through most of North America. It reaches to 6 inches high, and is a perennial. The ground root is the part used for healing.

Ginkgo Biloba

It grows 50 to 70 feet tall. It prefers temperate areas with moist soils, and needs full sun and high humidity.

The ginkgo tree thrives in full sun and average soil. It is very resistant to infection and pollution and can grow up to 120 feet. The small yellow fruit that falls from the female tree has a strong rancid odor.

Ginseng

A perennial herb with a large, slow growing root. Requires a loose, rich soil, with a heavy mulch of leaves and only 20% sun.

Growing

Ginseng can be very difficult to grow. Germination of disinfected seeds (to kill mold, which plagues ginseng at all stages of growth) can take up to a year or more. Plant in early autumn in raised beds of very humus-rich soil. Plants must be shaded at all times. Roots are not harvested until the plants are at least 6 years old. Take care during harvesting and drying not to break off any of the "arms" of the root. Dry for one month before use

It is difficult to grow and takes 4-6 years to become mature enough to harvest. The roots are called Jin-chen, meaning 'like a man,' in reference to their resemblance to the shape of the human body.

The ginseng plant has leaves that grow in a circle around a straight stem. Yellowish-green umbrella-shaped flowers grow in the center and produce red berries. Wrinkles around the neck of the root tell how old the plant is. This is important because ginseng is not ready for use until it has grown for four to six years.

American Ginseng

It is difficult to grow and takes 4-6 years to become mature enough to harvest. The roots are called Jin-chen, meaning 'like a man,' in reference to their resemblance to the shape of the human body.

Siberian Ginseng

Siberian ginseng is a shrub that grows 3 to 10 feet high. Its leaves are attached to a main stem by long branches. Both the branches and the stem are covered with thorns. Flowers, yellow or violet, grow in umbrella-shaped clusters, and turn into round, black berries in late summer. The root itself is woody and is brownish, wrinkled, and twisted.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal prefers rich soils in partial shade. It is a perennial herb that grows 6 - 18 inches high. The dried ground root is the part most often used, although the dried leaves are used in teas. It is difficult to grow successfully, and the plants need to be at least 6 years old before harvesting. Grows best in humid regions with rich humus soil and in shady areas.

Hawthorn

Perennial that tolerates most soil mixes. Full sun to partial shade. Hawthorn trees with their white rose-like flowers are considered one of the most beautiful spring flowering shrubs.

Hops

Hops prefers full sun, and will adapt to many soils. It is a perennial vine that reaches to 30 feet in height. The portion of the plant used in healing are the dried flowers.

Horehound

Horehound likes dry sandy soils and full sun. It is a perennial (except in very cold climates) that reaches to 3 feet tall. It is a vigorous grower and can become a pest if not carefully controlled. It needs little water, tolerates poor soils, and does best in full sun. It blooms during its second year.

Horseradish

Horseradish is a perennial plant that is cultivated throughout the world for its long, tasty root. It will grow two to three foot tall by its second year.

Horsetail

Horsetail needs swamps and damp places to grow, in full sun to partial shade. It grows to 1 - 2 feet tall. The plant itself is used in healing.

Hyssop

Hyssop prefers dry conditions, tolerates most soils, and full sun. It is a member of the mint family. It is a perennial shrubby plant growing to 3 feet tall.

Juniper

Juniper of all species are adaptable to many growing conditions. They are low-maintenance plants. Choose a species suited to your landscape needs, to avoid problems later, as some folks plant them with no regard for their eventual size, and sometime find they have a nuisance on their hands as the plant matures. If you want berries, you must plant a male and a female juniper.

Kava

Kava grows 8 to 20 feet tall and this shrub produces large, green, heart-shaped leaves that grow thickly on the branches. Long, slender flowers grow where the branches meet the stems. The roots look like bundles of woody, hairy branches.

Growing

Try growing it as a houseplant, with frequent misting for humidity, or placing on humidity trays. Seeds and plants are available from several mail-order sources. Kava root (which is used in medicinal preparations) comes from a tall shrub that grows in the islands of the Pacific Ocean.

Lavender

Lavender likes light sandy soil and full sun. It grows to 18 inches. It should be mulched in colder climates for winter protection for this perennial.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm grows up to two feet in height, sometimes higher if left not maintained. In the spring and summer, clusters of small, light yellow flowers grow where the leaves meet the stem. The leaves are very deeply wrinkled and range from dark green to yellowish green in color, depending on the soil and climate. If you rub your fingers on them, your fingers will smell tart and sweet, like lemons. The leaves are similar in shape to mint leaves, and in fact, come from the same plant family.

Growing

A perennial that can reach up to 3 feet high. It needs full sun and rich soil with regular watering. Plant where you can enjoy the lemon scent of the leaves from a porch, deck, or open window.

Licorice

Licorice is a perennial that reaches 3 to 7 feet tall. Hard freezes will kill it, so it grows best in warm sunny climates.Care: Licorice grows best in a dry and warm climate. Prefers sandy, rich soil and full sun.

Marshmallow

The stems give off simple branches or, at most, a few sideways branches. The pale yellow roots are tapered, long, and thick, with a tough yet flexible exterior. The short-stemmed leaves are round, with irregularly toothed margins and three to five lobes. A soft and velvety down covers the leaves and stem. The flowers have five reddish-white petals. The whole plant, especially the root, is filled with mild mucilage.

Growing

Marshmallow needs marshes and swamps to grow. It is a perennial growing to 4 feet tall. Its fleshy, erect stems reach a height of three to four feet.

Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is a perennial that prefers wet soils and marshes. It grows to 6 feet high, and prefers partial to full sun. Meadowsweet grows easily in damp places, preferring ditches and the banks of streams and rivers. Meadowsweet seeds itself freely, but can also be propagated by root division in autumn or spring. Leaves and flowering tops are harvested in summer when the flowers open.

Mugwort

Mugwort likes dry areas in full sun. It is a perennial shrubby plant that grows 1 - 6 feet tall, depending upon growing conditions.

Nettle

Nettle is considered a bothersome weed, it is best to purchase this herb from a store. The spines on a nettle plant can cause painful stinging, so it is not a good idea to include it in your herbal garden.

Neem

Neem is a tropical evergreen, native to India and Burma, and growing in southeast Asia and western Africa.

Growing

It can grow to reach 50 feet tall in a desirable climate, and tolerates drought and poor soils. It can live up to 200 years. Neem bears fruit at 3 to 5 years of age. It cannot take freezing temperatures, so those in northern climates can grow it as a houseplant. Summer it outdoors, and place near a bright or sunny window in the winter. It needs organic fertilizers, well drained soil, and as large a pot as possible. Ten gallon sized pots are recommended as the minimum. Be careful not to overwater.

Passionflower

Passionflower grows best below zone 7 outdoors, so grow indoors in the north. It prefers partial shade and a fertile soil with good drainage. It grows to 25-30 feet as an outdoor vine. Prune old growth in the winter or very early spring to encourage flowering.

Pau D'Arco

The Tabebuia evergreen tree grows in the warm parts of Central and South America. Most pau d'arco comes from a tree in the Amazon rain forest called Tabebuia avellanedae. It is a broad-leaf evergreen that grows to a height of 125 feet and is distinguished by pink to violet colored flowers. Its extremely hard wood makes it resistant to disease and decay. In recent years, however, there has been an increasing demand for pau d'arco and, as a result, the trees are in danger of becoming extinct.

Peppermint

Peppermint is a perennial grown in full sun, is tolerant of most soil types, and grows to 3 feet tall.

Plantain

Plantain is a common weed, some varieties being annual and some perennial. They are found in all soil types, and prefer full sun.

Red Clover

Grow clover as you would lawn grasses. Clover is an excellent cover crop, planted in fallow areas and turned under in the fall, it makes an excellent fertilizer for poor soils.

Raspberry

Red Raspberry is a biennial or perennial, depending on the variety, growing 3 - 6 feet tall. They need a cold winter and a long cool spring, so they do not do well in the South. They aren't too picky about soil, so long as they get plenty of water.

Rosehip

Roses of all varieties are adaptable to most soils as long as they have adequate water, and are occasionally fed through the growing season. There are varieties that will grow throughout North America. Plant them where you can enjoy their beauty and fragrance.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a perennial that prefers mild climates, so it needs to be grown indoors where the winters are harsh, or very heavily mulched. It reaches 2-4 feet in height, and is tolerable of poor soils. Cut back after flowering to keep it from becoming leggy.

Rue

Rue is a bushy perennial growing to 2-3 feet tall.

Sage

Sage is an evergreen perennial, growing to 2 feet tall. It does best in sandy, limey soil in full sun.

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto can be found in sand dunes along the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts. The plant grows from the Carolinas to Texas. Prefers well-drained soil and plenty of sun. The berries are harvested in autumn. Seeds are removed after the herb is dried for propagation in the spring.

Senna

Senna is a shrub native to North Africa, India, and China, and grows to 3 feet high.

Skullcap

Skullcap prefers moist well-drained soils. It is a perennial that reaches to 3 feet in full to partial shade. It is not long-lived, so replant every few years.

Slippery Elm

The inner bark of the slippery elm is the portion used for healing. It is a deciduous tree that grows 50-80 feet tall.

Growing

It needs full sun and good soils. It is found from Canada to Florida, west to the Dakotas and Texas.

St John's Wort

St. John's Wort is a bushy perennial plant with numerous yellow flowers. It is native to many parts of the world including Europe and the United States. It is a wild growing plant in northern California, southern Oregon and Colorado.

Growing

St. John's Wort is a perennial reaching 32 inches tall. It is grown throughout much of North America. It prefers rich to moderately rich soils, and full sun. It is not long-lived, so replant every few years. Harvest the leaves and flower tops as they bloom and store in air-tight containers.

St Mary's Thistle

Plants are annual or biennial. Very drought tolerant, self seeds readily. Prefers sunny position and well drained, dry soil.

Squawvine

Squawvine is a perennial evergreen creeper that grows on forest floors.

Thyme

Thyme is a perennial that loves warm, sunny fields, and is found throughout North America. It grows to 15 inches tall, and makes an excellent ground cover on dry slopes. Trim it back after flowering to prevent it from becoming woody.

Uva Ursi

Uva Ursi rarely grows more than a few inches tall. It is best propogated from cuttings. It takes an unusually long time to root, so consider instead buying small plants from nurseries. It does poorly in rich soil, as it prefers poor soils in full sun. Once established, it spreads and becomes an attractive, hardy ground cover, surviving temperatures of -50.

Growing

Uva ursi is a trailing evergreen shrub that flourishes in alpine forests in many regions, including North America, Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Siberia, and the Himalayas. The plant thrives in humus-rich soil. Uva ursi is a dwarfed evergreen perennial with short, creeping, red-brown branches. Pink or white bell-shaped flowers bloom in the spring. Bears are said to be fond of the shiny, bright red or pink berries, which are edible but sour tasting.

Valerian

Valerian is a perennial plant that grows to 3 feet tall. It prefers full sun, and average to rich well-drained soil. Root cuttings are best for propagation, and once the plants are established, they self-sow and spread by root runners. Valerian has a similar effect on cats as catnip, so you may need to protect your patch with chicken wire. Harvest roots for medicinal use in the fall of their second year.

Vervain

Vervain is a perennial herb that grows 1-2 feet tall. It prefers full sun, average to rich soils, and is grown throughout temperate North America. It is rather short-lived, but self-sows. Harvest leaves and flower tops as the plants bloom.

Violets

Violets are a perennial, prefer partial shade, average to rich well-drained soil, and grow to 8 inches tall.

Walnuts

Walnuts are trees that grow to 60 feet tall. They prefer full sun, deep and well-drained soil, and regular water. They grow well in areas such as the eastern and midwestern United States.

Wild Cherry

Wild Cherry grows throughout North America in moist areas, and along riverbanks. It is either a tall shrub or small tree, depending upon growing conditions of the area.

White Willow Bark

The white willow was introduced into the United States form Europe and can be found next to rivers and streams throughout the country. The bark is the part of the willow used, and is easily removed in the spring when the sap begins to flow.

Growing

Willows prefer damp, low spaces, as a long rivers and streams, or areas that receive regular water. They grow throughout North America. It grows to 70 feet or more.

Willow Herb

The Willow-herbs with the colour is reddish, pale pink to almost white. The flowers stand on thop of the long thin pod-like seed vessels. These later split, disclosing many silky whites hairs in which are embedded the tiny seeds.

Varieties: (Mountain Willow-herb (Epilobium montanum), Dark-green Willow-herb (Epilobium obscurum), Lance-leaved Willow-herb (Epilobium lanzeolatum), Hill Willow-herb (Epilobium collinum), Marsh Willow-herb (Eppilobium palustre, Gravel Willow-herb (Epilobium anagallidifolium).

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is a shrub or small tree that grows 5 - 15 feet. It ranges throughout the eastern half of North America. It prefers full sun, and average soils.

Wormwood

Wormwood grows mainly in temperate regions of the eastern portion of North America. It is a perennial shrub that reaches to 4 feet tall, and prefers full sun and average to poor soils.

Yarrow

Yarrow, a member of the Asteraceae family, is closely related to the chamomiles. It flourishes in a sunny and warm habitat, and is frequently found in meadows and along roadsides, as well as on dry, sunny slopes. It grows as a simple, erect, and hairy stem that can reach a height of 5 feet. The entire plant (with the exception of the fruit) is draped in white, silky hairs. Yarrow grows from runners as tough, angular, horizontal stems that bear flowers.

Growing

Yarrow is a perennial, and its various varieties range from 8 inches to 3 feet tall. It prefers full sun, and average to poor dry soils. Yarrow blooms between June and September. The flowers are typically white, but either pink or pale purple flowers are common in mountain areas. The petals are densely arranged in flattened clusters, and the leaves look like feathers.

Other Uses

Compost activator, Enhances flavor, strength and health of other herbs growing near it.