Yarrow Companion Plants
Flower120 days to maturity
Yarrow is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial with feathery foliage and flat-topped flower clusters in white, yellow, or pink. Its broad umbels are an exceptional nectar source for tiny beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps, making it one of the best all-around insectary plants for a working garden.
Companion Checker: what grows well with Yarrow?
Tap any plant to see whether it pairs well with Yarrow and why. Green means a beneficial companion, red means keep them apart.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Yarrow
Yarrow's chief role is as a predator-attracting insectary plant whose flat flower heads feed the beneficial insects that hunt aphids and other pests across the garden. Its deep roots also mine nutrients from the subsoil, so it pairs naturally with aromatic herbs and a wide range of vegetables.
Best Companion Plants for Yarrow
These plants grow well alongside Yarrow — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Yarrow thrives in the same lean, sunny, well-drained conditions as aromatic herbs and together they build a fragrant, beneficial-insect habitat that confuses pests.
Yarrow draws ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps that prey on aphids and other pests throughout the vegetable beds, and its deep roots help accumulate nutrients.
How to Grow Yarrow
- Botanical name
- Achillea millefolium
- Family
- Aster/Daisy (Asteraceae)
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low; about 0.5-1 inch per week, drought tolerant and prone to flopping if overwatered
- Soil
- Lean, well-draining soil, pH 5.5-7.0; rich soil makes plants floppy
- Spacing
- 12-24 inches apart
- Planting depth
- Surface-sow seeds, which need light to germinate; propagate easily by spring or fall division and cuttings
- Germination
- 10-21 days at 65-75F
- Days to maturity
- Can bloom its first year if started early; established plants flower late spring to fall
- When to plant
- Plant in spring or fall, or start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9
- Harvest
- Cut flower stems when fully open for fresh or dried use; deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering and limit reseeding
Common Yarrow Problems
Root rot and crown rot in wet or overly rich soil
Plant in lean, fast-draining ground, water sparingly, and avoid heavy fertilizer; divide crowded clumps to improve airflow.
Powdery mildew on foliage in humid, crowded conditions
Space and divide plants for air movement, water at the base, and cut back affected stems.
Aggressive spreading by rhizomes and self-seeding
Divide every two to three years, deadhead before seeds drop, and edge or contain the patch to keep it from overtaking neighbors.
Aphids and occasional rust on stressed plants
Hose off aphids and let the predators yarrow attracts finish them; remove rust-spotted leaves and improve airflow.
Yarrow Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for yarrow?
Yarrow is a superb companion for aromatic herbs and most vegetables, since it attracts ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps that control aphids and other pests. It also blends well in borders with echinacea, black-eyed Susan, and other sun-loving perennials that share its dry, lean preferences.
What should you not plant with yarrow?
Avoid pairing yarrow with plants that need rich, constantly moist soil, because it prefers lean, dry ground and rots in wet conditions. Keep it away from small, slow-growing plants too, since its spreading rhizomes can crowd them out.
Does yarrow spread or become invasive?
Yarrow spreads readily by both rhizomes and seed and can become aggressive in good conditions. Control it by dividing every few years, deadheading before seeds form, and planting it where its spread is welcome or contained.
Does yarrow attract beneficial insects?
Yes, yarrow is one of the best insectary plants you can grow. Its flat clusters of tiny flowers are ideal landing pads for ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps that prey on garden pests like aphids.
More flower companions
Plan Your Yarrow Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Yarrow and its companions.