showing first true leaves
This member of the Asteraceae family blooms from summer to early fall. Yarrow's botanical name is Achillea millefolium where the genus name Achillea is said to be derived from the mythical Greek character, Achilles, who would carry it with him into battle to treat wounded soldiers.
Yarrow is helpful in the garden for fixing poor soil and especially for attracting beneficial insects (hoverfly and parastitic wasps).
Hoverfly
Syrphid flies
Many of them look like bees but cannot sting. The larva of the hoverfly eats aphids, mealbugs, leafhoppers, and scale. The adult form feeds on nectar and pollen so a consistent bloom of flowers will keep them around the garden.
Parasitic Wasps
3 maingroups: Braconids, Chalcids, Ichneumonids
Braconids
Tiny, often brightly colored wasps that lay their eggs on or in cabbageworms, tomato hornworms, and other caterpillars.
Chalcids
Tiny wasps,(1/32 in.) whose hosts are mealybugs, aphids, and larvae of moths, beetles and butterflies. They can be golden or black in color.
Ichneumonids
The wasp that is characterized by its long ovipositor which deposits eggs into moth and butterfly larvae.
For a list of host plants for beneficial insects (and other indispensable gardening information) check out Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture.
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