Which feature is characteristic of common yarrow?

• A. Leaves finely divided and fern-like with grayish-green hairs
• B. Leaves broad and smooth
• C. Flowers mostly red
• D. Grows as a woody shrub

Answer: (A)

Common yarrow is best identified by its foliage. The leaves are finely divided into many thread-like segments, giving a delicate, fern-like or feathery appearance, and they have a grayish-green, slightly hairy surface. That combination—a highly dissected, fern-like leaf with a gray-green, hairy texture—is the standout feature that distinguishes yarrow from plants with broad, smooth leaves, colorful (especially red) flowers, or woody shrub forms. In addition, yarrow is an herbaceous perennial, not a woody shrub, and its flowers are typically white rather than red, which reinforces why the feathery, gray-green leaves are the characteristic hallmark.