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Native Plant Society of Texas

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Other common name(s):

Western Yarrow, Yarrow, Milfoil

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Loam, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Riparian, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Butterflies

Maintenance

Grows in a variety of soils. May go dormant in summer and return in cooler weather. Late afternoon shade and a little supplemental water will prolong its green leaves in hotter climates. Colonizes by rhizomes, making a good groundcover. If desired, dead-head for appearance or leave seed heads for wildlife. Can be used in fresh or dried arrangements. Hybridizes with Eurasian yarrows and cultivars. White yarrow found in the wild are closer to being pure native. WARNING: some people may experience contact dermatitis. Native habitat: disturbed areas, pastures, meadows, roadsides, stream sides, woodlands.

Description

Blooms April-September: late April to early July in the south, mid July to mid September in the north. Grows in upright clusters of stems with branches only near the top. Fern-like leaves have a pungent fragrance. Flowers occur in white flat-topped clusters. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Seed requires one month of cold stratification and direct sunlight for germination. Germination occurs within one or two weeks. Collect entire inflorescence and dry before cleaning. Light tan at maturity, seeds mature in late summer and early fall. 1) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/mtpmcpg13974.pdf 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACMI2
Root Cutting Root cuttings can be propagated by placing them into warm soil in direct sunlight in the spring or fall. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/mtpmcpg13974.pdf
Bud Division Using a sharp spade, separate the clump into sections, ensuring each division has both roots and shoots. Replant the divisions in well-prepared soil, spacing them appropriately to allow for future growth. Divide established yarrow clumps in the early spring or fall when the plant is dormant. https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2024/02/29/the-art-of-propagating-yarrow-a-guide-to-successful-growth/
Stem Cutting Strip off the lower leaves and make a small cut at the base of the stem. Insert the cuttings into a pot filled with moist rooting mix, ensuring that the nodes are buried. Keep the cuttings in a bright, indirect location and maintain consistent moisture. Use a plastic dome or cover to maintain humidity, if needed. Once the cuttings develop roots (usually within a few weeks), transplant them to your garden bed. Yarrow responds well to this during the summer months. Select healthy, non-flowering stems. Cut 4-6 inches below a leaf node https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-achillea-millefolium/

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason