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Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

true

1 Gallon

Common Yarrow

In stock

1'x1'

Sizes:

Common Yarrow — Achillea millefolium

Also known as: Milfoil, Soldier’s Woundwort

Common Yarrow is a low, spreading, herbaceous perennial best known for its finely divided, fern-like foliage and flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers that range from white to soft pink, depending on the variety or population. The foliage is aromatic when crushed and forms a dense mat close to the ground, with flower stalks reaching 1–3 feet tall.

Native across most of North America, including parts of California’s mountains, grasslands, and coastal regions, its presence in low-elevation desert habitats is sparse or absent. That said, it can be successfully grown in desert gardens with afternoon shade and irrigation, in higher desert elevations or microclimates that retain moisture. It is often included in meadow-style plantings, habitat restorations, and pollinator gardens.

The long bloom season (spring through fall with deadheading) makes it a pollinator powerhouse. Yarrow is especially important to native bees, beneficial wasps, and syrphid flies, with its broad, flat flowers offering easy landing platforms. Butterflies and moths also use it as a nectar source. Insects attracted to yarrow are in turn valuable food for insectivorous birds, and the dense foliage offers ground shelter for small wildlife.

Although its tolerance for drought is good once established, yarrow prefers well-draining soils and appreciates light irrigation to prolong bloom in arid climates. It spreads via rhizomes, making it useful as a low groundcover, though it can become aggressive in well-watered beds. Trim after flowering to keep tidy and to encourage reblooming.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Nectar Source: Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui); Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo); Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchella); Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus); native bees; syrphid flies
Bird Resources: Insects; Ground Shelter; Nest Material
Bird Species: Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria); California Towhee (Melozone crissalis); Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)

Plant Care

Native region:

CA Native

Water needs:

Low; Moderate

Exposure:

Filtered Sun

Mature size:

1'x1'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

White; Pink

Flower season:

Spring; Summer; Fall

Pruning:

Cold Hardiness:

-20 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.