Yarrow Growing Guide

Achillea millefolium, Achillea filipendulina, some Achillea hybrids

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Fertile soil with good drainage, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.

Position

Full sun to partial shade.

Frost tolerant

Yes, yarrows are among the most cold-tolerant perennial flowers. Well-rooted plants can tolerate winter cold to -37°C (-35°F).

Feeding

In spring, topdress the area around yarrows with a balanced organic fertiliser. Too much fertiliser can cause yarrows to grow large and floppy, with limited blooms.

Spacing

Single Plants: 30cm (11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 30cm (11") with 30cm (11") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Many varieties of white or pastel common yarrow are easy to start from seed. Sow the tiny seed atop moist seed starting mix, barely pressing them in. At room temperature, seeds should germinate in 10 to 14 days. Grow seedlings under bright supplemental light and set them out after the soil warms in spring. The plants should start blooming their first year. Yarrow also can be started from purchased plants. The best cultivars of tall, yellow fernleaf yarrow are propagated vegetatively, so you will need to start with purchased plants in spring or early summer. Yarrows need less water than other perennial flowers and do not do well with very wet conditions. Yarrows more than two years old grow into clumps that are connected with shallow roots. To propagate yarrow, an entire clump can be dug, divided and replanted in spring, or you can take small plants from the outside of the clump for replanting.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

With their soft, ferny leaves and frothy umbels of flowers, yarrows are welcome in any garden. The flowers attract pollinators, and the clump-forming plants hold their space throughout the season. There are many lovely varieties from which to choose, which vary in growth habit, size, and bloom time. Common yarrow (A. millefolium) produces a strong flush of pastel to red flowers in early summer, followed by modest reblooming later in the season. Yarrows that bloom yellow to orange are usually A. filipendulina hybrids, which produce their long-lasting flowers all at once in midsummer. Common yarrow is native to temperate climates in many parts of the world, where it colonises roadways and other disturbed sites. Historically, yarrow foliage was used to treat bleeding wounds.

Harvesting

Gather stems for use in cut arrangements when most of the flowers in the umbel are open. Removing old flowers can improve reblooming in many cultivars. If you plan to dry yarrow blossoms, wait until the flowers are fully open to cut them. Strip off leaves and hang the stems in small bunches in a dry, airy place.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Yarrow

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail