What hardiness zones is Achillea millefolium suitable for?

Achillea millefolium is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Achillea millefolium?

Achillea millefolium requires Full Sun.

How much water does Achillea millefolium need?

Achillea millefolium has Low water needs.

1 / 10

Perennials

Achillea millefolium

common yarrow

AsteraceaeEurope, Asia, North America

At a Glance

TypePerennial

HabitSpreading

FoliageDeciduous

Height12-36 inches (30-90 cm)

Width18-36 inches (45-90 cm)

Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Deer Resistant

Drought Tolerant

Fragrant (moderate)

Native to North America

Maintenancelow

Overview

Achillea millefolium is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family, growing 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) tall depending on soil fertility and moisture, with a spreading width of 18-36 inches (45-90 cm). Stems are upright to slightly sprawling, angular, and woolly-hairy. Leaves are bipinnately to tripinnately dissected into fine threadlike segments 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long, medium gray-green, and aromatic when crushed or damaged. Flat-topped corymbs of small flower heads, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) across, appear at stem tips from June through September. Each flower head is composed of 3-8 small ray florets surrounding a yellow-white disc; ray color in the species type is white, occasionally pale pink. Spreads aggressively by shallow rhizomes, producing dense colonies in open, disturbed, or low-fertility sites. In high-fertility soils, stems become taller and more prone to flopping. The plant has a long bloom period of 8-12 weeks; cutting back after first bloom often promotes a second flush of flowers in late summer. Lower leaves yellow and die back in dry or hot conditions by mid-summer.

Native Range

Native to temperate regions of Europe, western Asia, and North America. In North America, the species is native across a broad range from the Pacific coast east to the Atlantic, including most of Canada and the contiguous United States, particularly in open meadows, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed sites. Naturalized widely beyond its native range.

Suggested Uses

Commonly planted in perennial borders, meadow plantings, and pollinator gardens at 18-24 inch (45-60 cm) spacing. Spreads by rhizomes, forming colonies that can displace smaller or less vigorous neighboring plants; more suited to naturalistic settings than formal borders with closely spaced companions. Tolerates foot traffic near paths and can be used in low-mow lawn mixtures in infertile soils.

How to Identify

Identified by finely divided, bipinnately dissected leaves with a feathery texture and a pungent, camphorous odor when crushed. Flat-topped corymbs of small white ray flowers with yellow-white disc florets appear June through September. Stems are angular and white-woolly. Leaves are 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long, alternately arranged, and gray-green. Species-type flowers are white; pink-flowered plants in the wild are uncommon variants; cultivated selections are often shades of yellow, red, or pink.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1'6" - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

yellow

Foliage Colors

gray green

Fall Foliage Colors

tan

brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

SummerFall

Blooms June through September across most of its range; earlier in May in zones 8-9 and starting July in zones 3-4. Individual flower heads last 2-3 weeks. Total bloom period extends 8-12 weeks. Cutting back spent corymbs by one-third to one-half in July can stimulate a second bloom flush 4-6 weeks later in zones 4-7.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White ray florets with yellow-white disc

Foliage Description

Gray-green, finely dissected and aromatic

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsandclay

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Thrives in lean, well-drained soils; in fertile or moist soils, stems grow taller and frequently flop, requiring staking. Established plants tolerate drought for 3-5 weeks without supplemental watering; extended drought causes lower leaves to yellow and die back but rarely kills established plants. Division every 2-3 years is necessary to prevent colonies from spreading beyond their intended area. Powdery mildew develops on foliage in humid conditions with poor air circulation but is cosmetic only. Aphids and other insects occasionally feed on new growth; populations typically self-regulate. In zones 3-5, mulch lightly after first hard frost to protect crowns.

Pruning

Cut plants back by one-half in late June to July after first bloom flush to encourage a second round of flowering 4-6 weeks later. Cut all stems to 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) above ground in late fall after foliage dies back, or leave standing through winter for structure and wildlife habitat, cutting back in early spring before new growth emerges. Divide clumps in spring or fall every 2-3 years by digging and splitting the root mass.

Pruning Schedule

summerearly spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets