This tough plant produces pretty, long-lasting flowers that attract scores of pollinators.
Yarrow is a classic garden perennial known for its ruggedness.
Yarrow may also cause an allergic skin reactionwhen touched by those who are susceptible.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Water it thoroughly and continue to water it frequently until the yarrow plant is well-established.
Space multiple yarrow plants 1 to 2 feet apart.
Yarrow Care Tips
Yarrow is extremely easy to grow and requires little maintenance to thrive.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Plus, with the right conditions, they can bloom all the way from early spring to late fall.
Some yarrows spread quite aggressively by underground rhizomes.
How to Propagate Yarrow
Yarrow grows aggressively and can self-seed if left unchecked.
Credit: Tom McWilliam
The best way to propagate your yarrow and get similar-looking new plants is through division.
This will also curtail excess growth and keep your yarrow plants vibrant and healthy.
Press the seeds into the soil and water.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Keep the tray in a warm, sunny spot and they will begin to germinate in about two weeks.
Types of Yarrow
Originally, yarrow garden flowers only came in drab whites and creams.
All these shades are shown off well against the plant’s silver-green foliage.
Credit: Andy Lyons
The leaves themselves are finely dissected and form tight mats that slowly spread.
Yarrow blooms also makelong-lasting cut flowers that can be easily dried.
Current breeding work has been focused on improving the flaws of yarrow.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Color options are also getting richer as many varieties branch out from the pastel palette.
It grows 18-24 inches tall and wide.
The long-blooming flowers form on compact plants.
It is also deer-resistant and attracts butterflies.
The spreading clumps of common yarrow grow 1-3 feet tall.
Zones 3-9
Fernleaf yarrow
Achillea filipendulinaoffers finely cut gray-green foliage and reaches 3-5 feet tall.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It bears mustard-yellow flowers in mid to late summer.
With age, the flowers take on a pink hue.
The plant blooms all summer if deadheaded.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The drought- and heat-tolerant plants don’t melt down in summer’s heat.
‘Wonderful Wampee’ grows 18-24 inches tall and wide, gradually spreading to form large clumps.
‘Pomegranate’ yarrow grows 24-30 inches tall and wide.
Credit: Denny Schrock
And yet they look so delicate, producing glorious trumpet-shaped blooms in numerous colors.
The flowers are borne on leafless stems.
The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous.
Credit: Blooms of Bressingham
Long blooming with brilliantly colored tubular flowers,penstemons have been a staplein European gardens for decades.
There are many different penstemon types.
The leaves can be lance-shaped or oval and sometimes purple-red, as in ‘Husker Red’.
Credit: Scott Little
Some Western species need superior drainage to dry conditions and won’t thrive during wet weather.
However, many, such as ‘Husker Red’, thrive in various conditions.
Just be sure to provide excellent drainage.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Mulch in areas where plants are marginally hardy.
Sages are valued for their very long bloom season up until frost.
Not all are hardy in cold climates, but they’re easy to grow as annuals.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Provide full sun or very light shade in well-drained average soil.
Summer Cottage Garden Plan
Stately delphiniums are the backbone of this colorful cottage garden plan.
Property Line Garden
This stylish border features a sophisticated color palette.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Colorful Slope Garden Plan
Transform a tough hillside into drifts of color with show stopping results.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
Yarrow and hemlock can look deceptively similar.
Credit: Stephen Cridland
First, consider the size.
If you have any doubt about a plant you run into, its best to steer clear.
Plant Fact Sheet - USDA.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_acmi2.pdf.
University of California D of A and NR.
University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
Accessed August 1, 2024. https://ucanr.edu/sites/PlantSafely/ToxicPlantList/Achillea_millefolium/.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
