Cottage Yarrow

Yarrow: the plant of a thousand uses. Its genus name, Achillea, is derived from the mythical Greek character, Achilles, who carried it with his army to treat battle wounds, lending to one of its common names, soldier’s woundwort. Native Americans have used the plant for centuries: the Navajo considered it to be a “life medicine”, the Miwok of California used it as a pain killer, while the Cherokee drank tea of yarrow to aid in restful sleep. A useful companion plant, yarrow repels pests (its essential oil has been shown to kill the larvae of certain mosquito) while attracting good, predatory ones, such as ladybugs, overflies, and wasps, giving these flowers an integral place in organic pest management.

Regularly changing the water in their vase while trimming their stems will preserve their beauty.