About the Yarrows. The Achillea tribe are plants of dry, gritty areas, and do not like soil that is too moist or rich. Give yours plenty of drainage. The fore-runners of these beautiful hybrids have one of the richest histories in the plant world. Long thought of as a magical plant, yarrows history goes back to Roman times, when it was thought useful in healing warrior wounds. The name Achillea is from Achilles, and the fateful wound of his heel. But it doesn't stop there. Witchcraft and all sorts of magical potions are associated with this plant. The basic wildflower, Achillea millefolium, has a grayish-white bloom with deep green ferny foliage.