How to Grow Yarrow
Yarrow At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -34°C
Plant Family
Asteraceae
Growing Season
Cool & Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Sow in late fall and let winter do the work, or in early spring, about 4 weeks before your last frost. The tiny seeds need light to sprout, so press them onto loose, damp soil and do not cover them. They come up in 10 to 21 days: thin them (pull the extras) so the plants end up about 30 cm apart.
Yarrow is one of the toughest plants you can grow: it comes back every year, laughs at drought and cold, and its flat flower heads feed bees and the helpful insects that eat aphids. Plants from seed often flower in their second summer. It spreads by underground runners, so give it room or grow it in a pot.
When To Start
First chance to plant
30 Days Before Last Frost
Last chance to plant
60 Days Before First Frost
When should you plant Yarrow?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Yarrow Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Yarrow Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Sow yarrow outdoors, pressing the seeds onto the soil
30 days before your last frost· every year
Optional: plant or divide yarrow in a sunny, dry spot
Around your last frost· every year· optional
Cut yarrow back after flowering for a second round
90 days after your last frost· every year· optional
Did you water your yarrow seedlings today? Keep the top of the soil damp until they are up and growing.
About 1 days after you plant it
How is your yarrow doing? Give it sun and let the soil dry between waterings.
About 51 days after you plant it
Checking in on your yarrow. Cut the flowers at full bloom to keep new ones coming.
About 81 days after you plant it
Picking time may be here: check your yarrow.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Yarrow's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 10–21 days
Growing Tips
- 1Plant yarrow in full sun, at least 6 hours a day.
- 2Poor, dry, well-drained soil suits it best, so skip the compost, since rich soil makes tall stems that flop over.
- 3Water while the plants settle in, then only in long dry spells.
- 4It needs no feeding at all.
- 5Cut the stems back after the first flowers fade to get a second round of blooms and to stop it seeding everywhere.
- 6Leave room between plants so air can flow and keep powdery mildew (a white dust on the leaves) away, and note that yarrow is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if they eat it.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
~90
Days to Maturity
60 cm
Mature Height
60 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
30 days
When to Pick
Cut flowers at full bloom
How to Harvest
- 1Cut stems for a vase or for drying when the flower heads are fully open and firm, on a dry morning.
- 2Cut near the base of the stem, which also makes room for new flowers.
- 3To dry them, hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy spot for 1 to 2 weeks, and they keep their colour for months.
- 4After the first flush of flowers, shear the whole plant back to get a second round.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Yarrow flowers are visited by many insects, so white yarrow can cross with coloured yarrow growing nearby, and seed from named colours often comes up mixed. Leave some flower heads on the plant until they turn brown and dry. Cut them into a paper bag and rub them between your fingers to free the tiny seeds. Let them dry for a few more days, then store them labelled in a cool, dark, dry place for about 3 years.
Seed Production
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