Yarrow
Avoid enriching the planting hole — lean soil produces the sturdiest, longest-lived plants.
Care
Full sun.
Very drought-tolerant once established.
Free-draining, even poor soil; dislikes rich, wet ground, which causes floppy growth and shortens lifespan.
Deadhead spent flowerheads to prolong flowering, or leave for winter seedhead structure. Cut back to ground level in late winter/spring, dividing congested clumps every 3 years.
Don't feed. This is a plant of poor, dry, sunny ground, and the flat flower heads on a fed plant are carried on stems too soft to hold them up.
Divide the clump in spring every couple of years, keeping the fresh young growth from the edge. It is also the standard remedy for a middle-aged clump that has become bare and floppy at the centre.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- FebruaryCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- MarchDivide congested clumps every 3 years to maintain vigour. how ›
- JuneDeadhead to prolong flowering, or leave some heads for winter structure. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- MarchDivide congested clumps every 3 years to maintain vigour. how ›
- JuneDeadhead to prolong flowering, or leave some heads for winter structure. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- FebruaryDivide congested clumps every 3 years to maintain vigour. how ›
- MayDeadhead to prolong flowering, or leave some heads for winter structure. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryCut back last year's growth before new shoots appear. how ›
- FebruaryDivide congested clumps every 3 years to maintain vigour. how ›
- MayDeadhead to prolong flowering, or leave some heads for winter structure. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. In rich soil or shade.
What to do. Move to a sunnier, leaner spot.
Popular varieties
Questions
Yarrow: is it hardy?
H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Prefers open, lean ground long-term.
Yarrow: when do you prune it?
Deadhead spent flowerheads to prolong flowering, or leave for winter seedhead structure. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in February.
Yarrow: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–August.
When do you feed it?
Don't feed. This is a plant of poor, dry, sunny ground, and the flat flower heads on a fed plant are carried on stems too soft to hold them up.