Aquilea: all about them

All the yarrow They are herbaceous and subshrub plants that, as they live for several years, are highly recommended to have in gardens that urgently need a greater variety of colors. Although if you do not have land, do not worry: due to their size you can also have them in pots.

In addition to being very decorative and very easy to care for, there are some species that have medicinal properties really interesting. Do we know them better? 🙂

Aquilea characteristics

Our protagonists are very fast growing plants originating from Europe, Asia and North America known as yarrow or yarrow. They reach a height of approximately one meter. Its leaves are alternate, generally serrated. The flowers appear distributed in inflorescences in the form of a chapter or »head», white, yellow or pink.. The seeds are very small, less than 0,5cm in length, obovoid and flattened.

The genus Achillea is made up of a total of 150 accepted species belonging to the botanical family Asteraceae. The best known is the Achillea millefolium, although there are others like Achillea ageratum or the Achillea macrophylla whose seeds are relatively easy to find for sale.

Cultivation and care

If you want to have these plants in your garden, you just have to follow these tips:

Location

So that they can grow properly and flourish it is convenient that they be placed in a sunny exposure. At a minimum, you should give them 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.

Soil or substrate

They are not demanding at all. They can grow in all types of soils or substrates as long as they have good drainage. In the event that you want to have them in the garden and the land has a tendency to compact, it is advisable to make a planting hole of 50cm x 50cm and mix the soil with perlite in equal parts; If, on the other hand, you want to have them in a pot, you should use a universal growing medium with perlite, expanded clay or the like.

Irrigation

The frequency of irrigation will vary depending on the season of the year in which you are and the climate that is in your area. As a general rule, it is necessary to avoid that the earth or the substrate remains dry / orTherefore, it is advisable to water an average of four times a week in summer and every three or four days the rest of the year.

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If they are going to be for human consumption it is necessary to pay them with natural products, how can he be bat guano, either in powder if they are in the garden, or in liquid form if they are in pots from early spring to late summer. Otherwise, synthetic fertilizers, such as universal fertilizer, can be used.

Planting or transplanting time

The Aquilea they can be permanently planted in the ground or transplanted in spring. If they are kept in containers, they must be transplanted every two years, placing them in ones that are 2-3cm wider than the previous ones.

Plagues and diseases

They are very resistant plants.

Pruning

After flowering it is advisable to prune them so that they look prettier and have better growth.

Multiplication

You can get new specimens by sowing the seeds directly in the nursery or dividing the bushes in early spring. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

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1. First you must fill in the seedbed -pot, seedling tray, milk containers, yogurt glasses,… - with universal culture substrate.
2. Next, you must place the seeds on the surface, leaving a distance of about three centimeters between them.
3. Then you have to cover them with a very thin layer of substrate.
4. Lastly, you must place the seedbed in a plastic tray and fill it with a little water so that the substrate is moistened.

The first ones will germinate in 4-5 days.

Division

If you want to divide your Aquilea, what you should do is extract the plants if they are in pots, or make trenches 20cm deep if they are in the ground and with a small hand saw divide the plants in two. Then, you can plant them in different corners of the garden or in individual pots.

Rusticity

They resist the cold of up to -7ºC.

What are the properties of yarrow?

Now that we've seen how these amazing plants are cared for, it's time for you to learn what they're used for. Well, in addition to being ornamental for many centuries, they have been used as medicinals. And is that It has disinfectant properties, soothes and heals skin conditions, and treats hemorrhoids.

But not only that: promote heavy digestions, and are effective against vomiting and gastric ulcers. They are also one of the best allies for those who have trouble sleeping, who are depressed or anxious.

They can be taken in infusion or in capsules that you will find for sale in herbalists.

Contraindications

They should not be taken during pregnancy or lactation.as it could lead to miscarriage. It should not be taken either if you are allergic to compound plants (like daisies or asters), are taking clotting medications or if you are going to have surgery. You should not combine them with other plants with a sedative effect, such as valerian or linden.

Curiosities of the Aquilea

The name of the genus, which as we have seen above is Achillea, comes from the hero of the Trojan War. During the conflict, the warrior Achilles cured many soldiers and the king of Mycenae himself, King Telephus, with these plants.

What do you think of these plants?