Native Plant of the Month: Common Yarrow
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You can often find the little white flowers of common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) blooming in open meadows around the Bay Area. We plant yarrow and see it growing naturally at most of our habitat restoration sites including McClellan Ranch Preserve in Cupertino, Pearson-Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto, Byrne Preserve in Los Altos Hills, and many others.
Common yarrow is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial that lives three or more years. Its soft green leaves and stems die back to the ground in fall, but the roots of the perennial plant are alive underground and new growth will emerge in the spring. Yarrow transforms in summer and spring sending up 1-3 foot long stalks with masses of flowers that are alive with bees, butterflies and other pollinators. It is easy to care for in the garden and will spread underground and grow new plants through its creeping rhizome root system.
Plant yarrow in full sun or partial shade, within a meadow, along a garden border, or under deciduous trees like oaks. Yarrow can also serve as an erosion control when planted on sunny hillsides. Once its roots are established, only occasional water in the summertime is needed for an amazing floral display. You can prune the old flower stems in late fall to encourage new growth next year.
Common yarrow pairs well with other drought tolerant natives such as California goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp.californica), coastal buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium), foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus), hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), and Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana). Cut flowering yarrow stalks also make beautiful bouquets especially when combined with penstemons and sages.
Yarrow and other California native plants are available for sale from our Native Plant Nursery, and are all grown from local wild-collected seed!
Our nursery is a partner of Bloom! California along with over 100 other nurseries around the state offering eleven select native plant groups, including yarrow, that bring California’s unique beauty into your garden, create pollinator habitat, restore nature in the urban landscape, and support water conservation. Learn more at bloomcalifornia.org.
By Nursery Director, Deanna Giuliano
