Native to the Eurpean content and the islands of Scandinavia. It is found in alpine meadows and disturbed soils. Genus Archillea is from the mythical Greek character Achilles who carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. Found in Neanderthal flower burial of northern Iraq dated 60,000 BC along with a number of other medicinal herbs. In antiquity known as herbal militaris for stanching the flow of blood from wounds, cuts and abrasions. Yarrow is also known as gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort, thousand-leaf, and thousand-seal.