Yarrow is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is found in disturbed areas as fields and roadsides. The Genus name is derived from the mythical Greek character Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. The specific epithet comes from the featherlike leaves. This plant will grow 1 to 3 feet tall and wide and prefers well-drained soil and full sun. It is poor soils and drought tolerant and moderately salt tolerant. Plants can spread aggressively by rhizomes and seeds and are easily divided. Deadhead flowers to prolong blooming and minimize spread by seed. The tiny radial and disc whitish flowers occur in flat-topped corymbs in dense heads in early to mid-summer into fall. The leaves give the plant a soft fern-like texture, making it attractive even when the erect flowering branches are not in season. It may be too weedy for flower bed borders and a cultivar is a better choice. Use this plant in naturalized settings, as a ground cover or a lawn alternative in low-foot traffic areas. They also make good cut and dried flowers and attract many pollinators. Avoid planting where your pets are and wear gloves to prevent contact dermatitis. Quick ID Hints : Leaves pinnatifid, fern-like in appearance. Inflorescence terminal, small heads in a dense umbel. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Stem rot and powdery mildew are rare. Spreads aggressively. Root rot in too-wet soils More information on Achillea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 10 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low; Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Fragrant; Good Dried
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Narrowly oblong to lance-shaped aromatic with a strong spicy aroma. Deeply divided fern-like, medium green foliage. In a basal rosette with cauline leaves alternate, simple, pinnatifid and deeply divided, petioles elongate on lower leaves to sessile on upper leaves.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Corymb; Head; Umbel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
June to September numerous long-lasting tiny whitish ray and disc flowers in corymbs.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The small achene-like fruits are called cypsela
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Europe, western Asia, North America,
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies and bees and other insects.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Predatory Insects
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
Leaves and flowers are bitter, but can be eaten raw or cooked in moderation. They are used in salads and to make teas. The flowers and leaves are used in making some liquors and bitters.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans to break a fever, soothe a rash, or treat hemorrhaging or stomach aches.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Rock Wall
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#salt tolerant #ncemgva2018 #fragrant leaves #cottage garden #nectar plant #naturalizes #lawn alternative #fantz #pollinator plant #spring interest #red flowers #yellow flowers #white flowers #medicinal #pink flowers #groundcovers that can be mowed #summer flowers #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #stormwater demo garden orange co #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #bee friendly #contact dermatitis #cutting garden #wildlife friendly #meadow #herb garden #wildflower #herbaceous perennial #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #HS303 #weedy #dye plant #beneficial insects
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses; Weedy
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Humidity; Pollution; Rabbits; Salt