How to Grow Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
This article is part of our “How to Grow Herbs” series. If you would like to learn more about how to work with this plant after you harvest it, please refer to our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here.
There are several different types of yarrow that are commonly available on the market today. In this article, I will be specifically referring to the white-flowering species, Achillea millefolium, that is commonly grown by herbalists for its therapeutic benefits.
Yarrow is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family and is an herbaceous perennial, which basically means that it will continue to live year after year but that in most zones, it will die back to the ground in the wintertime.
There are many kinds of yarrow, but the white ones and the wild pink ones are the species that are used therapeutically in the herbal tradition and in aromatherapy. The vibrant red, orange, yellow, and other colored varieties are ornamental cultivars. I grow both the ornamental varieties and the official species and the ornamental ones are nowhere near as fragrant or as active therapeutically, though I have found that the creamy, very pale, peachy-pink variety comes closer than the others and I will use it as a substitute in a pinch. I reserve the other ornamental species for the pollinators.
Yarrow is hardy down to at least a USDA growing zone 4, though I have heard reports of it surviving winters in zone 3 on occasion.
Growing from Seed
Yarrow is easy to grow from seed and if you start your seeds early enough (between fall and early spring), you might even see it flower in its first year!
To sow, scatter the seeds on the soil’s surface, press them firmly into the soil, and mist gently with water so the seeds are not moved much by the flow of the water. They need light to germinate, so do not cover the seeds with soil. If you are sowing your seeds in a tray or pot, keep it in a place where it will be exposed to sunlight or artificial daylight-balanced light.
Keep the surface of the soil evenly moist but not drenched until the seeds come up and have produced their first set of true leaves. At that point, you can water a little less frequently but it is still beneficial to avoid letting the soil dry out completely while the plants are establishing a healthy root system.
Once your seedlings have several sets of true leaves, you can transplant them out into the garden. Yarrow grows especially well in full sun and in a spot with well-draining soil, but is really not a very finicky plant. I have found that it will also grow in partial shade and full shade, though its size and aroma (and therefore its therapeutic potency) are diminished in shady conditions. Still, it will flower for you and can be planted in shadier spots as a pollinator or ornamental plant. It does tend to produce more flowers when grown in full sun.
You can also direct sow yarrow seeds in the fall or early spring. If your ground does not freeze in the wintertime, you could even direct sow seeds in the winter as well.
Multiplication Through Division
Yarrow plants take off and spread quickly through underground runners after establishing themselves in their new planting space. Because of this, you may wish to plant it in a raised bed to control its spread.
To keep your yarrow plants vibrant and healthy, divide the plant clusters every 2-3 years and replant them with a bit more space between plants. I divided two 1-gallon pot-sized clusters of yarrow one year into 30 plants! Even small pieces of the rooted rhizomes will take root and continue growing. In time, you should have plenty of yarrow to share or to divide to increase your own patch.
Yarrow as a Lawn Plant
Yarrow makes a great lawn plant if you want to cultivate diversity in your lawn. When it is mown regularly, it stays quite short – about the height of lawn grass – and it pairs well in diverse lawns with red and white clovers, Roman chamomile, plantain (Plantago spp.), self heal (Prunella vulgaris), and sweet violets (Viola odorata). Just think of the aromatic pollinator haven your lawn could be! A diverse, aromatic lawn also makes a great place for a Sunday afternoon nap.
One of our local parks allows yarrow to grow mixed into the lawn and it looks quite lovely even when kept short by regular mowing.
Growth Habit
The yarrow in my zone 8b garden stays green throughout the winter, though the fresh growth is very small during that season and the stems do die back. In good soil, yarrow can grow to 3 feet (~.91m) tall or so. If you find it growing wild, it may be shorter – even under 12″ (~30cm) if the soil is poor or if the weather has been dry. It often grows alongside the road, in fields and meadows, along the forest’s edge, and in places where the soil has been disturbed.
Learning More
If you would like to learn more about how to work with aromatic plants, I hope you will join me in our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here at Floranella! In it, I teach students how to safely and effectively work with over 100 different herbs as well as their applicable essential oils and hydrosols from the garden to the still to the apothecary. I hope to see you in class one day!
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
