Perennial
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Flat-topped blooms over ferny foliage. Thrives in lean soil; flops if pampered.
- Pollinator
- Deer-resistant
- Native
Quick facts
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–9
- Water
- Very low once established
- Sun
- Full sun
- Size
- 18–36 in. tall × 18–36 in. wide
- Bloom & interest
- Flat-topped clusters in white (species) or pink, red and yellow (hybrids), early to late summer
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Native range
- Native across nearly all of North America, including every Western state
Why we recommend it
Ferny foliage and flat flower heads in every warm color, native across the US, and thriving in the poorest dry soils while feeding a huge range of pollinators.
Best regions: Front RangeHigh DesertGreat BasinTexasSouthern CaliforniaSouthwest
How to grow it
Watering to establish
Water every few days until new growth appears, then weekly through the first summer; established plants survive on rainfall in most of the West.
Pruning
Deadhead spent flower heads to the next side bud for more bloom; cut to basal foliage in late fall or early spring.
Soil
Lean, well-drained soil of almost any type. Fertilizer and rich soil cause floppy stems. Spreads by rhizomes, so divide every 2–3 years.
Pairs well with
Read more
Where to buy
Shop Yarrow from trusted growers. For the best selection of xeric plants, try a mail-order specialist or ask a local independent nursery.
- High Country Gardens (opens in a new tab)Xeric specialist
- Nature Hills Nursery (opens in a new tab)Wide selection
- American Meadows (opens in a new tab)Perennials & seeds
- Etsy (opens in a new tab)Small growers
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