Gardeners are spotting this feathery-leaved wildflower everywhere right now
iNaturalist Community
Phenology
That fern-like plant with flat white flower clusters growing in your lawn edges or roadside ditches is common yarrow, and its surge in sightings this week means it's in peak bloom, easy to identify, and a great low-maintenance addition for pollinator gardens.
Common yarrow is a tough, feathery-leaved plant with clusters of tiny white flowers that's having a big moment on iNaturalist, a citizen-science app where people log plant sightings. Nearly 400 people confirmed spotting it in just one week, which tells you it's blooming heavily right now and growing almost everywhere, from meadows to sidewalk cracks. It's a great plant to learn to recognize since it's both a beneficial pollinator plant and a common wild edible.
Key Findings
374 research-grade observations of common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) were logged in a single week
Yarrow ranked among the most-observed plant species on iNaturalist during this period
High observation volume reflects the plant's mid-summer bloom peak and widespread distribution across varied habitats
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common yarrow is popping up all over iNaturalist right now, with 374 confirmed sightings logged in a single week, showing just how widespread and easy to spot this hardy wildflower is in midsummer.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Trending: common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — 374 observations this week
common yarrow is among the most observed plant species this week with 374 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Growing to 1 metre tall, it is characterized by small whitish flowers, a tall stem of fernlike leaves, and a pungent odor.