If you’ve been on the lookout for an easy-to-care-for, versatile flower, we’ve got a great suggestion for you. Meet yarrow: it’s a hardy perennial that sprouts tight packs of tiny flowers, and their leaves often have an aroma. Even more, these spry blooms look fantastic in borders and rock gardens, and they’re also great for cutting and drying.
There are quite a few varieties of yarrow we recommend for their nice colour and other fun aspects. There’s Ritzy Rose, a hot pink variety, Apricot Delight, a combo of peach and other pink hues, and there’s Sunny Seduction, a butter yellow colour that’s hard to pass up. And guess what! Some varieties of yarrow are edible, too. But we will get to that later in the post. For now, let’s go over how to plant and care for your yarrow (edible or not!).
How to Care for Yarrow
You can add yarrow to your garden easily with these steps.
Planting Yarrow
- Plant your yarrow in the spring in well-drained soil that’s average to poor quality. Yarrows thrive in hot and dry conditions; they will not be happy in moist soil.
- First, loosen the soil wherever you want to plant the yarrow—about 12 to 15 inches deep. You can use either a garden fork or tiller to accomplish this. Then add a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost and make sure it mixes well into the soil.
- Place your yarrow plants about 1 to 2 feet apart, as they will quickly spread. Just be careful which variety you choose, as some types can be invasive.
Yarrow Care
- Each spring, add a thin layer of compost around your plants. Then follow with mulch.
- Yarrow likes dry and hot conditions, but they still need some water. If you don’t receive an inch of water in one week, be sure to water regularly.
- Yarrow does not need to be fertilized.
- Every three to five years, it’s important to “divide” the yarrows. This means that in early spring or fall, you’ll lift up the flower clumps and remove dead stems from the center of the clump.
- You can re-plant from these tip cuttings – just be sure to do it in early spring or summer.
Other Things to Know About Yarrow
Now that you know how to grow and care for yarrow in your yard, here are a few other tidbits to know and keep in mind.
- You can use the white and pink yarrow varieties as herbs. This article states, “It is commonly used as a medicinal herb that can treat the bleeding minor wounds, swollen or cramping muscles, reducing fever or to help with relaxing. As with any medicinal herb, yarrow should not be taken without first consulting a physician.” You can even make a yarrow tea.
- You can also use yarrow as an astringent in DIY face wash or shampoo.
- Yarrow is susceptible to some pests (aphids) and diseases (powdery mildew and rust) so keep an eye on your plants to ensure they live long, healthy lives.
All in all, yarrow is a very versatile plant that’s easy to care for; what more could you ask for? Whether you decide to plant it for herb reasons or simply to spruce up your garden, yarrow is a fantastic choice. For more great garden ideas, join Rozanne’s Inner Circle!
