How to Grow Yarrow Plant: 5 Tips for Growing Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is an herbaceous perennial with tall stems, fern-like leaves, and bundles of tiny flower heads that grow in circular blooms. Yarrow plants have a long bloom time from early spring to late fall and grow between one and three feet tall. Both pest-resistant and drought-tolerant, yarrow is a hardy plant native to North America, Europe, and Asia. The flowerheads come in white, red, pink, or bright yellow, bringing vibrant blooms to a garden, flower pot, or lawn. Common names for yarrow include devil's nettle, milfoil, old man’s pepper, thousand-seal, and thousand-leaf. Popular yarrow cultivars include ‘Cerise Queen,’ ‘Moonshine,’ and ‘Paprika.’

As a pollinator-attracting wildflower, yarrow attracts butterflies, bees, and birds. Yarrow is also known as a companion plant because it replenishes the soil with nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. The tall stems make it easy to keep yarrow blooms as cut flowers, which make for a perfect centerpiece.

One of the most well-known historical uses of the yarrow plant dates back to the story of Achilles, the Greek mythological hero. During the battle of Troy, Achilles used the yarrow plant to treat soldiers’ wounds. Historically, yarrow has been used for multiple medicinal uses, including stopping bleeding; this is where some of the colloquial terms for yarrow—including soldier's woundwort and bloodwort—come from. Today, the flowering plant continues to be used as a medicinal herb to treat fevers, common colds, and toothaches.

The yarrow plant is simple to grow across a diverse range of landscapes.

1. 1. Plant yarrow in a sunny spot. Yarrow plants need full sun to thrive. Ample sunlight helps the stems grow strong, supporting the weight of the flower heads. For best results, find a spot that receives sun throughout most of the day. While yarrow can thrive even in poor soil, it grows best in well-draining soil, so opt for a location that has good drainage.
2. 2. Space your yarrow plants one to two feet apart. Using a garden till or your hands, loosen the soil and dig a hole deep enough to cover the roots of each mature plant. Place the yarrow plant into the hole, covering the roots with the soil. You can then add a thin layer of compost to the surrounding area for extra nutrients.
3. 3. Stake the yarrow stems for added support. Yarrow grows quickly, so oftentimes the plant requires staking to hold the blooms upright. Place a stick alongside the yarrow plant and tie the plant to the stick with some twine. This will help the yarrow plant grow straight and upright.
4. 4. Water yarrow plants sparingly. As a drought-tolerant plant, yarrow needs little watering. Water your yarrow plants only when the soil has dried out—about once a week. During the summer, you may need to water your yarrow plants more depending on how quickly the soil dries out.
5. 5. Deadhead yarrow flowers. Cut yarrow flowers that are dead to encourage new bloom growth.
6. 6. Manage yarrow plant growth. Although yarrow can be a great, low-maintenance addition to your garden, it can overtake surrounding plants, so be sure to monitor its growth. If your yarrow plant starts to overtake your garden or lawn, dig a hole and pull the yarrow out from its rhizomes.

A fragrant herb, dried yarrow has a similar aroma to rosemary and oregano when crushed. Add crushed yarrow to spicy stews and sauces to heighten the spicy flavor. When making a broth, you can add yarrow to the stock for a bitter, sharp taste. You can also brew yarrow tea by placing yarrow leaves in boiling water.

You can also grow yarrow as an ornamental plant to decorate your landscape with feathery yellow flowers. Other varieties feature pink flowers or white flowers. The umbels, or flower heads, make the yarrow plant great for creating a thick, colorful groundcover. Yarrow is also commonly used in rock gardens, as it can grow in drier soils.

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