Yarrow

Planting

Plant yarrow in full sun in spring or summer. It thrives in nearly any soil type - clay, poor soils, and even slow-draining conditions are fine - so don't worry about amending. Space plants 1–3 feet apart depending on whether you want them to fill in quickly as a groundcover. Yarrow's deep roots make it excellent for erosion control on slopes.

After Planting

Water weekly during your first summer, then gradually reduce watering as the plant establishes; once established, it needs no more than once-weekly irrigation even in summer heat. After the first year, let yarrow do its thing - it's semi-deciduous and will handle our Bay Area winters down to -10°F. The #1 mistake is overwatering; this plant wants dry conditions and will rot in consistently wet soil. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms throughout spring and summer, or let it reseed if you want it to spread naturally.

Insects

criMonarch butterfly

Nectar · Year-Round

Critical fall migration fuel source Sep-Oct during southbound migration to Mexico

modAphrodite fritillary

Nectar · Year-Round

Adult nectar source Jul-Sep in California foothills and mountains

modAtlantis fritillary

Nectar · Year-Round

Mid-elevation California butterfly Jul-Sep

modCoronis Fritillary

Nectar · Summer

Adult nectar Jun-Aug in California grasslands

Mammals

modBlack-tailed Jackrabbit

Foliage · Year-Round

Opportunistic foraging on tender foliage and dried material in chaparral/grassland