Botanical name: Achillea
Plant type: Flower
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Sun exposure: Full Sun
Flower color: Red, Pink, Yellow, White
Bloom time: Summer
Yarrow is a hardy perennial with showy flower heads composed of many tiny, tightly-packed flowers. Their fern-like leaves are often aromatic. Yarrows are easy to care for and versatile: they are good for borders, rock gardens, or wildflower meadows. These flowers are excellent for cutting or drying.
Planting
- Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil in your garden to about 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in a 2– to 4–inch layer of compost.
- Plant in the spring in well-drained, average to poor soil. Yarrows thrive in hot, dry conditions; they will not tolerate wet soil. If you grow yarrows in rich soil, the plants may require stalking because the rich soil encourages growth.
- Space the plants 1 to 2 feet apart. They are quick to establish and spread, though some species, like Achillea millefolium, are invasive, so be careful when choosing your plants. Most kinds grow to be about 2 to 4 feet tall.
Care
- Remember to add a thin layer of compost, followed by a 2–inch layer of mulch around your plants each spring.
- If you receive less than 1 inch of rain a week in the summer, remember to water your plants regularly.
- Divide yarrow plants every 3 to 5 years. Lift the clumps of flowers in early spring or fall and remove any dead stems from the center of the clump. You can replant the divisions in well-prepared soil.
- If you plant yarrows from tip cuttings, plant them in spring or early summer.
Pests
- Aphids
- Powdery mildew
- Rust
- Stem rot
Recommended Varieties
- Coronation Gold, for its beautiful mustard-yellow flowers and silvery gray leaves
- Fanal ("The Beacon"), for its rich red flowers with yellow centers
- Cerise Queen, to add some bright pink color to your garden
E-Cards
Send a free e-card of this pretty yarrow.
Special Features
- Attracts Butterflies




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Comments
By Anonymous
- reply
Sould
i purchase now from a nursery and plant end of Sept for spring blooms or wait to plant in May 2013?
thank you
By Almanac Staff
- reply
Yarrow is a hardy perennial and can be planted in the fall or spring. Now is a good time to plant if you can find plants at the nursery.
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