Yarrow has a long-standing tradition as a healing herb, and many a soldier relied on the leaves of Woundwort or Herbe Militaris to stop the bleeding of battlefield wounds. Medieval peasants gathered its pungent leaves to add to the wild-crafted salads of the day, giving rise to another folk name, Old Man's Pepper. Yarrow Colorado Mix is a powerhouse bloomer adding sheets of flat-topped flowers above gray-green ferny leaves in garden borders and rock gardens. Cut for fresh or dried flowers, deadhead, or cut back once the long-lasting flowers eventually fade. This selection is good for sunny xeric gardens, as it excels in hot, dry summer seasons. Avoid rich, loamy, moist soils, as they will become weak stemmed and spread vigorously. In their first year of growth, perennials bulk up roots and foliage, blooming more abundantly starting the second year.