Yarrow is an easy-to-grow native plant that provides habitat for native pollinators.
Western yarrow (Achillea millefolium), also known as common yarrow, is a hardy native plant that is easy to grow. While yarrow flowers come in many colors, our native yarrow is white. You can see it blooming in early spring and throughout the summer.
What Does it Look Like?
Western yarrow has soft “feather-like” leaves that look like little ferns. It grows a stalk about two feet tall and is topped with a flat cluster of white flowers. It grows in attractive, green clumps that can spread about two feet wide.
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- Newly emerging yarrow shoots.
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- Yarrow grows to be between 2-3 feet tall.
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- White, flat flower heads are attractive in fresh or dried bouquets.
Why Should I Plant Yarrow?
Yarrow is easy to grow from seed or starts planted in the spring or fall. It has a long blooming period that provides great habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
The leaves and stems usually die back in the fall, but new growth will pop up in the spring. To gain added benefit from your garden plants, leave them in the garden when they die off in the fall. This provides organic matter that is important for improving soil health. Additionally, some beneficial insects use the stems of the dead flowering plants to lay their eggs for winter protection.
Yarrow is a hardy perennial that spreads easily.
Where Should I Plant It?
Yarrow is a perennial plant that lives for three or more years, but it will spread underground through its rhizome root system. It is an excellent choice for any open area where you are trying to establish native ground cover as it spreads easily. The plant is hardy and does well in a wide range of soil types. It is drought-tolerant and can succeed in drier areas where other plants struggle, however, it can handle moisture as well. It’s even a good lawn substitute for areas that are mowed infrequently!
Unique Features
Yarrow has a long history of being used as a medicinal herb. The plant has a sweet aroma and looks lovely as a cut flower that can be included in fresh bouquets or dried for arrangements.