Common yarrow

Common yarrow is a tough perennial in the daisy family that carries dense, flat-topped clusters of tiny flower heads above finely divided, ferny foliage. Wild plants are usually white, but garden selections come in pink, rose, red and yellow, and the species thrives in sunny, dry, poor soils across North America and Eurasia.

• Each 'flower' in the cluster is actually a complete miniature daisy head with its own rays and disc florets.
• The genus is named for Achilles, who legend says used the leaves to staunch his soldiers' wounds - hence old names like soldier's woundwort.
• Yarrow's aromatic leaves were once used to flavor and preserve beer before hops became standard.

Care
Give it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and avoid rich soil or heavy watering, which makes the stems flop.