Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

common name: 
common yarrow
 | 
scientific name: 
Achillea
 
millefolium
Close-up of white yarrow flower clusters with flat-topped blooms held above finely textured, fern-like foliage.

White common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in bloom, highlighting the flat-topped flower clusters characteristic of the species at the Kimmel Education and Research Center, June 2025.

Image Creadit: 
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant

Yarrow is a resilient perennial that thrives in hot, dry conditions and poor soils where many other plants struggle. Its finely textured, aromatic foliage forms a low, spreading clump that produces flat-topped clusters of flowers in early to mid-summer. Yarrow performs best in full sun and well-drained soil, and excessive moisture or fertility can lead to weak growth. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and beneficial insects and can be left standing to add texture to the landscape or harvested for dried arrangements.

Charecteristics
Plant type: 
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones: 
2, 3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs: 
Full Sun
Water Needs: 
Dry
Space Requirements: 
12 inches – 3 feet
Height Requirements: 
2–4 feet
Spread Requirements: 
3–4 feet
Bloom Color: 
White
Bloom Time: 
Summer
Leaf Color: 
Grey/Silver
Wildlife Attraction: 
Butterflies
Companion Plant Tolerance: 
Drought
Uses: 
Naturalize
Varieties
A bouquet of Flowerburst Fruitbowl yarrow featuring flat-topped flower clusters in shades of cream, yellow, pink, purple, and red.
'Flowerburst Fruitbowl'

'Flowerburst Fruitbowl' is a perennial that offers a lively mix of summer color in both the landscape and floral arrangements. Plants produce large, 2–4 inch flower umbels in shades ranging from cream and lemon to raspberry, cherry, and salmon. Growing about 2 feet tall, Flowerburst Fruitbowl develops strong, sturdy stems well suited for cutting, while still providing abundant blooms for pollinators. This easy-to-grow perennial performs best in full sun, matures in approximately 120 days, and can be used in beds, borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and meadow or prairie-style plantings.