skip to main content

Good yarrow, bad yarrow?

13 years ago

I like yarrow. I got two types from my gardening neighbor -- a really nice red and a really nice pink, and they do spread but they're beautiful. They both have finely-textured ferny leaves. I assume they're Achillea millefolium cultivars.

But then I got a yarrow at the plant swap last spring, which I've just spent hours pulling out. First of all, it's ugly -- these flat yellow ball-like heads. Second, the foliage is less ferny and more just like a flat cut-leaf. Third, it's bigger than my other yarrow. And fourth, it spreads like the dickens under everything and was popping up all over! What is this evil yarrow, please, if you know?

Featured Answer

laceyvail 6A, WV

13 years ago

A word about Tansy. Although the green variety is very aggressive, there is a chartreuse foliage variety, 'Isla Gold' that is gorgeous and non aggressive. It sends out short runners very slowly and is easily controlled. Everyone who sees it wants a start.

A word about Yarrow. The millefolium varieties are weedy and somewhat aggressive. However, I am very fond of Achillea 'Fireland', 'Moonshine' and "Terracotta'; I cut back before any set seed.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

mosswitch
13 years ago
Sure it isn't tansy, and not yarrow? Aromatic, fern-like, flat leaves with small yellow button flowers. It spreads by seeds and underground runners.

Here is a link that might be useful: tansy
jayco
Original Author
13 years ago
YES! It is tansy. Thank you! I never saw this before, it was labeled as yarrow, and, like a fool, I planted it.

I REGRET IT! The underground runners are killer.
Related Discussions
This is for yarrow growers
Q
Comments (2)
Right before my company came today, I went out and cut back the dried yarrow foliage and once I got it cut back, I could see some new growth coming up. Lesson learned..Many thanks for your response and helpful tip. Found where a stepping stone was covering some type of bulb plant..took it up and laid it along side of garage brick..will see if whatever was smothered will survive. I think it might have been a tulip or daffodil. Daffs are up about 4 in. or more already so I have a feeling that is what it was. I can only see tulip just popping through the soil.
...See More
Achilleas/Yarrows - opinions?
Q
Comments (25)
Hi Cameron! All Achilleas really need to be divided every three years. In 2007 I didn't get around to it and as a result, last year it had dwindled to almost nothing. (It didn't help that I was working 60 hours a week, including weekends so my garden suffered a lot.) Anyway, this year of course it was gone, so I decided to try something new - Penstemon dark towers. I planted one as a test last year and it took off, so we'll so how it all pulls together. I do plan to eventually put in Summerwine again, but first I need to add back in some sand. The clay soil that I have does not do those plants any favors. MXK3, glad to hear you like that combo. It was a happy accident, but a very pretty one.
...See More
Echinacea, Shastas, Yarrow --- A Victim of their own Success!
Q
Comments (2)
What is your watering and fertilizing regimen? Maybe you are overdoing it, causing this growth?
...See More
Anyone know what would cause yarrow to keel?
Q
Comments (2)
Tina, Sorry about your yarrow loss. I understand that is easy to grow, does anything else in that bed show any signs of a disease or some other unknown cause? Is there anybody in your household that doesn't like your yarrow? Maybe somebody else will come up with a better answer. My neighbor has offer me some of hers but I'm going to wait till Spring to take it or late Fall I think, she said she is sorry she planted it . She is almost 84 and has a lot of health issues and is not able to take care of it anymore. It has been so hot this summer, that she hasn't even bothered any of her plants. I have a feeling, she'll have them all dug up and just do container gardening next year.
...See More
linlily
13 years ago
Definitely stay away from any variety that has "Achillea millefolium" in the name. They can be uncontrollable.

I've had the same clump of Achillea "Anthea" for years and it never gets out of hand. It's a nice light yellow that is not garrish and goes with everything. No underground runners!

I also have some King Edward Dwarf Yarrow or Wooly Yarrow and it has not caused any problems either. It's just so cute and small. Great for the front of the border.

Linda
brit5467
13 years ago
Don't feel bad, Jayco. I bought the same thing from Kmart several years ago, labeled 'yarrow' and had the same terrible results. The foliage also stunk !!

Ended up having to tear up that part of garden and start all over. Therefore, I hated yarrow. However, I did take a chance and buy 'Red Velvet' this year and it already has that pretty fern-like foliage like you said. So am now really looking forward to seeing it bloom !! I feel better too, knowing what I had before was not "true" yarrow.

Here's how big it is already !!

{{gwi:207170}}
jayco
Original Author
13 years ago
Pretty! I actually love the ferny foliage of true yarrow. Mine is also kind of aggressive but it's so easy-care and I love the flowers. I can always chop it back in the spring and keep it in bounds.

So, now an update on my tansy situation:

First, a thousand thanks to Mosswitch for telling me what it was, since I immediately Googled it and found out that there were probably still roots everywhere and I should go back out and dig it up again, so I did. Talk about a PITA! That thing had sent its roots out everywhere, over and under other plants' roots, and it was very difficult to get it all out. I *think* I did, and now I will always recognize and shun the evil tansy.

Still like yarrow though!

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Achillea Millefolium for Dry California Gardens

By Debbie Ballentine

Yarrow attracts painted ladies and scares off garden thugs in native habitats and vegetable gardens

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Gardening for the Bees, and Why It’s a Good Thing

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When you discover how hard bees work for our food supply, you may never garden without them in mind again

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Why the Art of Restraint Is So Good for Your Garden

By Donald Pell - Gardens

Drifts of naturalized plantings offer the perfect inspiration for your home landscape

NATIVE PLANTS 5 Ways to Keep Your Native Plant Garden Looking Good All Year

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It’s all about planning ahead, using sustainable practices and accepting plants as living organisms

GROUND COVERS Give Your Lawn a Taste of the Wild

Consider the joys of an irregularly trimmed meadow lawn: It’s ecofriendly, visually interesting and still good for romping

PLANTING IDEAS Modern Planting Ideas From a Historic English Garden

Low-maintenance, climate-fitting plants are just the beginning of the good things in this bishop’s updated garden

REMODELING GUIDES Exposed Rafter Tails Show Heads-Up Craftsman Style

By Rachel Grace

For a touch that offers decorative appeal and practical protection in bad weather, look to this classic Craftsman roof detail

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Native Wildflowers With Unique Foliage

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When the flowers fade, these leaves keep the garden looking good

GARDENING GUIDES Solve 3 Common Landscape Problems — With More Plants

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Ceanothus Americanus

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Thriving in lean soil and attracting the good bugs, New Jersey tea is a boon to full-sun areas of the garden

Sponsored

More Discussions

This deer deterrent would work, but it may not exist

47

Tulips in your garden 2023

28

I will admire Forsythia from afar

13

Do you plant very young, small plants directly in garden?

11

The last big sowing of the season

9