Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea spp.)

Common Yarrow — Achillea millefolium and related species

Full sun, medium to moderately dry moisture, tolerates a wide range of soils including clay and rocky sites, slightly acid to slightly alkaline pH.

2–3 feet tall, blooms spring to early summer with white, yellow, or pink flowers depending on cultivar; spreads aggressively by underground rhizomes and self-seeding.

Germination Code: A. Division in spring or fall is the most reliable propagation method; cultivars do not come true from seed.

Native region: Achillea millefolium occurs statewide in Tennessee; non-native species and cultivars are ornamental introductions from Europe and Asia.

Yarrow is reliably drought-tolerant once established, making it one of the few full-sun perennials that holds up through Middle Tennessee's July and August dry spells in clay-heavy soils. The fern-like foliage is aromatic and unpalatable to deer. Stems tend to flop in hot, humid conditions or in fertile, moist soil — a common failure mode in well-amended Middle TN beds; planting in lean, well-drained soil keeps plants upright. Deadhead spent flower clusters to extend bloom and prevent aggressive self-seeding. Attracts butterflies, bees, and beneficial wasps.