Common yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Family: Asteraceae
Fire effect on plant
Common yarrow is top-killed by low severity fire but has good resprouting ability after.
Key traits
Common yarrow has an extensive network of rhizomes, which are usually only slightly damaged by low-intensity fire (Higgins and Mack 1987). Severe fire, however, may cause mortality (Mitchell 1984).
Following fire, regeneration is from rapid rhizome spread and wind dispersal of seeds onto burned sites from adjacent unburned areas (Howe 1994).
Plant response to fire
Common yarrow's good sprouting ability, high germination percentages, and competitive seedlings result in a remarkable persistence under fire disturbance.
The cover and frequency of common yarrow tends to increase the first few years after fire before decreasing to prefire levels as competition and shading intensifies (e.g., Gibson and Hulbert 1987; Bork et al 1996).
Timing of life history
A winter-green perennial. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowers June to September.
Conservation status
None.
References
Aleksoff, Keith C. 1999. Achillea millefolium. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/achmil/all.html [2024, January 24]. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]
Bork, Edward; Smith, Darrell; Willoughby, Michael. 1996. Prescribed burning of bog birch. Rangelands 18: 4-7. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Gibson, David J., Hulbert, Lloyd C. 1987. Effects of fire, topography and year-to-year climatic variation on species composition in tallgrass prairie. Vegetatio 72: 175-185. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Higgins, S. S., Mack, R. N. 1987. Comparative responses of Achillea millefolium ecotypes to competition and soil type. Oecologia 73: 591-597 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Howe, H. F. 1994. Response of early- and late-flowering plants to fire season in experimental prairies. Ecological Applications 4: 121-133. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Mitchell, J.M. 1984. Fire management action plan: Zion National Park, Utah. Record of Decision. 73 p. Report on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT.