Yarrow

Years ago Karen's brother and I built huge patio using stone pavers. Shortly after that, we built a flagstone patio behind the stone paver patio. The flagstone patio is informal, with gaps between the stones for plants and a trellis for growing vines. I planted several different types of plants to fill in the gaps betwen the stones. Wooly Thyme spread to make a fuzzy carpet. Dianthus filled in a spot near the edge of the patio and is crawling up a small hill. Ice Plant blooms with yellow flowers in the late spring. Creeping Phlox blooms with neon pink flowers in early spring. Common Thyme has taken over the north side of the patio, sending up purple flowers in late summer.

Yarrow has been the most successful plant in the patio. We started with one Yarrow plant in a small container and put it in because we read that it would spread. Boy, did it spread. As you can see from the above pictures, the Yarrow has taken over the whole southern half of the patio. It is in bloom right now with white clumps of flowers, heavy on pollen. The plant is very leggy and can look spindly to some, but I like the feathery leaves that sprout from the stem. After a few weeks, the nice white flowers will turn brown and we will cut down the Yarrow to keep it from looking from looking too ratty. But, next year it will be back again and certainly have spread to new areas.

Some interesting facts about Yarrow. It was used in making an early form of beer called Gruit. Drank at weddings in the Middle Ages, descriptions found people going mad from drinking the brew. Maybe just what happens when you have a few too many cocktails? Who knows, since Gruit has long since passed from favor.

Yarrow has also been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. No scientific studies exist about the benefits of Yarrow and I'm not recommending it's use, nor have I ever ingested the herb. But, anecdotally, Yarrow is used to stop bleeding, lessen inflamation and as a hair conditioner. Yarrow has also been used to make a tea to aid in digestion and to sweat out toxins. It's also been used to ease the symptoms of menustrual cramping. I think I'll just leave it in the garden.