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.