Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It grows 40–90 cm (16–35 in) tall and 40–70 cm (16–28 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -35 °C (-31 °F). Space plants about 50 cm (20 in) apart.
Plan Yarrow in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Yarrow at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Mature height | 40–90 cm (16–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 40–70 cm (16–28 in) |
| Spacing | 50 cm (20 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -35 °C (-31 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 9–14 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇷🇺 Russia |
Is Yarrow toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: leaves, flowers
Can cause vomiting, drooling and skin irritation in cats and dogs.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Yarrow
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Yarrow in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Riverside botanical garden (15 plants)
Questions about Yarrow
- How far apart should I plant Yarrow?
- About 50 cm (20 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–70 cm (16–28 in).
- Does Yarrow need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Yarrow need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Yarrow?
- It tolerates about -35 °C (-31 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Yarrow flower?
- From about June for 9–14 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Yarrow poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Can cause vomiting, drooling and skin irritation in cats and dogs.
- What grows well with Yarrow?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Yarrow. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus