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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

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)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Bees

Maintenance

Drought tolerant. 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. Colonizes by rhizomes and seeds. 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. Propagation: seed.

Comments

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. Lacy foliage has pungent fragrance. Leaf retention depends on growing conditions. 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) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/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. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/mtpmcpg13974.pdf
Clump division 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

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason