Sneeze-wort
Achillea ptarmica
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
There are about 85-100 Achillea species. They are temperate in Europe and Asia.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in well drained soils in sunny positions. It is resistant to drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Britain, Czech Republic, Europe, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North America, Norway, Romania, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA
How it is used for food
Leaves are eaten raw or cooked. They are used as flavourings in salads. The flowers are used in herbal teas and lemonade. They are also fried in butter and sprinkled with sugar or orange juice.
Edible parts
Leaves, flowers
How it is grown
It can be grown by dividing the rootstock. It is grown from seed. Seed germinate in 1-3 months. Seedlings can be transplanted. Plants can be grown from cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Aster rusia, Nyseryllik, Pehtranov rman, Rebricek bertram, Russian daisy