Explore Cornell - Home Gardening - Flower Growing Guides

Search Cornell

Home Gardening

Flower Growing Guides

Growing Guide

[+] larger image

Yarrow

Herbaceous Perennial Flower, Herb

Also known as Woundwort yarrow, Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Staunchweed, Nosebleed, Thousand Weed, Thousand Seal
Achillea millefolium
Asteraceae Family

A range of flower colors, fine-textured foliage and medium height make this drought-resistant medicinal herb an easy, attractive, fragrant and drought-resistant addition to border plantings.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

full sun

Soil conditions:

tolerates droughty soil
requires well-drained soil

Prefers a light, well-drained soil.

Hardiness zones:

3 to 10

Special locations:

xeriscapes

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1.5 to 3 feet

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Bloom time: mid-summer

Flower color:

red
yellow
white
pink
other

Some varieties also produce gold flowers.

Foliage color:

dark green
gray-green

Can vary from grey-green to dark green.

Foliage texture: fine

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations

Tolerates:

frost

Special characteristics:

deer resistant
non-aggressive
non-invasive - Is naturalized in many areas.
not native to North America - Native to Europe and Western Asia
fragrant - Foliage is highly aromatic, resembling chamomile.

Special uses:

dried flowers - Dried flowers tend to loose their color.

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - New seedlings or divisions should be planted one foot apart.
In the spring, clumps of mature plants should be divided as they become crowded.
It will take seedlings one to two years to establish themselves.

Days to emergence: 30 to 45

Maintenance and care:

Yarrow is drought resistant and so doesn't need frequent watering.
Tall plants may need staking.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Diseases:

Plants are much more susceptible to diseases in humid areas.
Mildew: If infection is severe, cut and destroy plants.
Other diseases:
Crown gall
Stem rot

Varieties

'Rosea' and 'Rubra' are redish varieties but many cultivars are available in a wide range of colors: white, pink, violet, yellow, gold, red.