How To Harvest and Dry Yarrow

"A weed is simply a plant that you don't know what to do with."

Author Unknown

There is a lot of yarrow growing here on Oak Hill. Usually I harvest enough to make a big batch of infused oil to use throughout the year. I often double- or even triple-infuse the oil with several herbs, which might include plantain, chickweed, comfrey, and lemon balm. I make the oil into salves or creams, or use it in my homemade soap.

This year I wanted to have a few more options. I'm beginning to use herbs in teas, and I want to make some powdered yarrow to use as a wound powder. Having the fresh herbs is wonderful, but winter does arrive eventually even in Oklahoma, and there are no fresh herbs in winter. So in addition to making the infused oil, I dehydrated some yarrow as well. This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure here.

I gathered a big armful of yarrow stems. The best time to harvest yarrow, or any other herb, is on a warm, sunny day. Wait until the dew has dried, but don't wait until it's so hot out that the plant's essential oils have dissipated.

I barely walked ten steps to gather all of this.

You can use both the flowers and the leaves. I cut off the flower heads using my kitchen shears and discard the stems.

Then, holding the top of the stem in one hand, I simply run my hand down the stem from top to bottom and all the leaves come off very easily.

If you find a multi-branched stem, it's easiest to cut them into individual stems before pulling off the leaves.

I ended up with this big bowl full of yarrow leaves and flower heads.

You can use a dehydrator, or just spread out the herbs on a cookie sheet and dry in a very slow oven. Set the oven as low as it will go; you don't want to burn or cook the herbs, just dry out the moisture. I used my L'Equip food dehydrator (affiliate link), and filled all six trays.

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The herbs are "done" when the stems snap easily and cleanly.

I filled an entire container with this batch. Label your container (dried herbs tend to look alike, although you'd probably be able to tell from the smell that this is yarrow), and store in a cool, dry, dark place.
To make a wound powder, process the dried leaves in a coffee grinder or blender until they form a fine powder. You can use the flower heads as well although they won't grind as fine. Keep in a small, dry container such as an empty pill bottle, and label well. To use, pour the powder over a wound, then blow off the excess.
If the wound is bleeding profusely or the bleeding won't stop, seek medical attention immediately.

Remember, before using this or any herb, please research it fully.
You are responsible for your own health.

What is your favorite dried herb? How do you use it? Please leave a comment.

Related posts:
Plantain
Woolly Mullein
Echinacea
DIY Herb Field Guide

How to harvest and dry yarrow, from Oak Hill Homestead

This post has been shared at some of my favorite blog hops.

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19 comments

Rachael8:18 AM
Wow, I love this idea! Just another something to keep in mind when I have some rambling land. Your plants are beautiful, by the way. Thanks for sharing!
Our Neck of the Woods3:29 PM
I'm really going to have to search my property to see if we have any yarrow. I'd love to do this! Lately I've been drying oregano and thyme.
Oak Hill Homestead4:11 PM
Thank you, Rachel! I'm glad you visited and hope you'll come back.
Oak Hill Homestead4:12 PM
Tammy, yarrow is easy to find when in bloom, and also in the fall when the flowerheads have dried. I hope you have some on your property. Oregano and thyme - I bet your house smells good. :-)
April S.7:08 AM
What a great idea! I love the smell of yarrow but never thought of what I could do with it. I have some in a big planter blooming right now and it grows wild around the fields like crazy. Thanks for sharing!
Oak Hill Homestead7:55 AM
April, yarrow does have a distinctive scent, doesn't it? It's a plant with "many talents" and is also pretty, even in the fall when it's dead.
Tessa Zundel1:43 AM
This was great! We shared with our Facebook fans at homesteadlady.com.
Anonymous11:44 AM
Great idea! We have a hybrid yellow yarrow growing in our garden. Do you think we could use this in addition to the "wild" white yarrow?
Oak Hill Homestead11:55 AM
Thank you so much for sharing, Tessa!
Oak Hill Homestead11:58 AM
littlelagarden: I believe I read that all colors can be used. The white might be more effective, but "use what you've got" is my motto.
Fresh Eggs Daily7:30 AM
Great Post! New follower here. I use yarrow with my chickens and we have tons growing in the field next door. I am glad to know I can dry it and use it all winter as well. We also have Queen Annes Lace growing in amongst the yarrow, so its been interesting to note the side-by-side differences.
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/06/the-benefits-of-yarrow-for-your-chickens.html
Oak Hill Homestead7:57 AM
Lisa, that field must be gorgeous! Yes, it would be interesting to see the differences of these similar flowers side-by-side. Thanks for visiting and for following!
jennymt140200212:16 PM
I have yarrow in my pasture. This year there was some yellow flowers that looked like the yarrow. Does yarrow come in yellow also? I will have to try to do this with my yarrow. I noticed that someone else has a yellow one. I just wanted to be sure that it is a yarrow plant.
Oak Hill Homestead1:24 PM
Thank you for visiting, Jenny. Wild yarrow is white, but there are cultivated varieties that have yellow flowers. Check the leaves and see if they are similar. I'd also ask a local expert, perhaps your county extension agent. Could it be yellow because it's beginning to dry out? Mine is now turning yellow-brown.
JES6:37 AM
What a beautiful blog! Thank you for all the wonderful herbal information that you shared on the Art of Home-Making Mondays. I enjoyed this post very much.
Kathi at Oak Hill Homestead6:45 AM
Thank you, JES. I'm so glad you stopped by!
magnoliasntea10:31 AM
Great post! I've yet to use yarrow, but I am familiar with it. Thanks for sharing.
Mary Smith6:31 AM
Thank you for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist! You've been featured this morning @ Back to the Basics!!!
Kathi at Oak Hill Homestead6:45 AM
Thank you very much, Mary!

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How To Harvest and Dry Yarrow

19 comments

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