Fernleaf yarrow

Sun

Full sun; shade encourages weak stems and fewer flowers.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then only during prolonged dry spells. Avoid persistently wet soil, especially in winter.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates poor soil and a broad pH range. Heavy clay needs improved drainage.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Early to late summer; dense, flat-topped clusters of golden-yellow flowers.

Foliage

Aromatic, deeply divided, fernlike leaves, green to grey-green; usually dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   2 ft (0.6 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (0.9 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water new plants deeply when the root zone starts to dry; reduce watering once established.
• Avoid routine feeding and rich manure, which encourage floppy growth.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown; use gravel rather than a thick organic mulch on damp sites.
• Support tall stems early if the site is windy or the soil is fertile.
• Divide congested clumps every 3-4 years, replanting vigorous outer sections.

Pruning. Remove faded flower stems down to leafy growth to tidy the plant and sometimes encourage a smaller repeat display. Leave some dry stems for winter structure if wanted, then cut them to the ground before new spring growth develops.

Early spring

Cut down old stems before new growth lengthens.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps in well-drained soil and water them in thoroughly.

Late spring

Install discreet supports around tall plants before the flower stems reach full height.

Summer

Cut flowers for arrangements and remove spent heads if you want a tidier display.

Late summer

Remove unwanted seedheads before seeds ripen; retain a few if you want dried winter structure.

Autumn

Clear fallen debris from the crown and check that water drains freely around it.

• Plant in repeated groups through a sunny perennial border for a strong band of yellow.
• Pair with ornamental grasses so its flat flowerheads contrast with fine leaves and airy seedheads.
• Combine with blue or violet salvias and catmint for a clear warm-and-cool colour contrast.
• Use in gravel gardens and dry, sunny planting schemes where drainage is reliable.
• Grow in a cutting border for long-stemmed fresh flowers and dried arrangements.

Garden styles it suits: New perennial (prairie), Cottage garden, Dry gravel garden, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance and Hot border.

Plant it with: Russian sage, Catmint, Meadow sage, Feather reed grass, Purple coneflower and Globe thistle.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects. The open flower clusters also provide feeding sites for small beneficial insects.

• Flopping stems: provide full sun, avoid rich feeding and excessive watering, and support tall clumps early.
• Crown or root rot: improve drainage, keep mulch away from the crown and avoid winter waterlogging.
• Powdery mildew: allow more space for airflow and avoid letting plants become severely drought-stressed.
• Aphids: rinse colonies from young shoots with water and encourage ladybirds and other natural predators.

Treat all parts as potentially toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten; yarrow ingestion can cause digestive upset and drooling. Species-specific toxicity information is limited. In people, the sap and foliage can cause contact dermatitis, particularly in those sensitive to the daisy family; do not use it as an edible garden plant.

• Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

  Usually shorter, with finer foliage and a more spreading, rhizomatous habit; wild forms normally have white or pale pink flowers rather than the large golden-yellow heads of fernleaf yarrow.

• Woolly yarrow (Achillea tomentosa)

  Also has yellow flowers, but forms low mats with noticeably woolly grey leaves and much shorter flowering stems.

Achillea refers to the Greek hero Achilles, traditionally associated with yarrow, while filipendulina means resembling Filipendula, or dropwort.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring. Sow seed in spring, pressing it onto the surface of moist seed compost without burying it deeply; seedlings from named cultivars may not resemble the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Achillea filipendulina

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, Pakistan, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey and Turkmenistan.

Measured

Soil pH 7.5 to 8. Average height 19 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.