Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), the story goes, is named after Achilles, who carried it for use in stanching his soldiers’ bleeding.

It produces lacy flowers with feathery leaves, and is well-loved by the insects in my garden. It is said to be a particularly good companion plant, attracting beneficial insects and repelling some you might rather not have. We have a few yarrow in white and shades of pink, and it is a dependable, hardy plant which blooms for most of the summer.

I have not yet tested its effectiveness as a dressing for wounds. I may give it a try next time blood flows in the raspberry patch, but it doesn’t seem to have done much good for Achilles himself, so I’ll keep my expectations low.