Description
Common name: Yarrow. Athair Thalún.
General:
This population originates from Co Down. Irish Grid reference: J5944.
Hardy perennial. White flowers up to 70cm. Abundant and very pretty feathery, fine leaved foliage is an attractive mid green colour. Late flowering July to September. Seeds ready in SepOctober/November.
Benefits:
Multi flower, flat, open heads. Fairly long flowering season, helping pollinators get ready for hibernation. Can tolerate a grassland situation once established.
Habitat:
Open sunny meadows, prefers well drained soil. Tolerates shade well. A versitile and hardy plant. Widespread across the island.
Sowing guidelines:
Sow from late autumn to early spring in trays or modules, germination takes around 6 weeks. Protect the surface of the compost from drying out at all times. You can cover with white plastic on the rim of the trays and or place in a gravel tray in water.
Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle into modules. Bring on under protection until large enough to plant out when around 8cms tall. Protection means from slugs and snails, extreme cold on small plants, birds digging around tiny roots, being swamped by weeds etc.
Keep location weeded until plants establish. All plants do better with optimal levels of light, water, nutrients.
For best ongoinig maintenance in a grassland situation, mow or graze in the winter months, remove clippings to leave a short sward for new spring growth to emerge.
Cultural history:
It is said to have been named after the Greek hero Achilles, who used it to staunch the bleeding from the fatal wound in his heel. It has many other medicinal uses.
Avg seed weight 1g = 6,000 seeds.
