Yarrow isn’t just a pretty face in the garden—it’s actually edible for both humans and our furry friends! Thanks to its aromatic compounds and essential oils, it adds a really unique, herbal punch to all sorts of dishes. Just a quick heads-up, though: if you have a known allergy to plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), you’ll want to sit this one out.
Yarrow is completely non-toxic
Good news! Every part of the yarrow plant is safe to eat and totally non-toxic. As long as you enjoy its bold, aromatic flavor profile, feel free to get creative with it in your kitchen.
Watch out for toxic look-alikes
If you’re heading out to forage in the wild, you’ve got to be extra careful. Yarrow has a few toxic “doppelgängers” out there that can look surprisingly similar. To avoid a nasty case of poisoning, make sure you can distinguish it from its dangerous cousins. Only harvest plants that you can identify with 100% certainty.
Using yarrow in your cooking
Yarrow is super versatile in the kitchen. You can use the flowers, the leaves, and even finely chopped stems to level up your favorite recipes. If you’re looking for a bit of texture, try drying the plant parts to use as a crunchy topping for salads, soups, or sauces. And for the home bartenders out there, yarrow-infused liqueurs are a fantastic way to capture those floral notes!
Yarrow as a natural remedy
Folks have been using yarrow for its healing and soothing properties for ages, which is why it’s earned such a stellar reputation as a medicinal herb. You can whip up everything from teas and juices to tinctures, or even use it externally in poultices and relaxing bath soaks.
A note on allergies
If you’re allergic to members of the Asteraceae family (like daisies, marigolds, or ragweed), you should definitely avoid yarrow in any form—whether that’s as a snack or a natural remedy. Since yarrow belongs to this family, it can trigger some pretty strong allergic reactions in sensitive people.
Yarrow for your pets
It’s not just for us! Many small pets, like rabbits and guinea pigs, absolutely love munching on fresh yarrow leaves. If your little buddies are roaming the garden and decide to snack on some yarrow, there’s no need to worry. However, the same foraging rules apply: if you’re picking greens from the wild for your pets, make sure you haven’t accidentally grabbed a toxic look-alike that could make them sick.
