When to plant Yarrow in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Raise yarrow seedlings under cover from September to November, barely covering the tiny seed at just 1 mm deep, as it needs light to germinate. Sprouts appear in around 10 days, and plants flower in roughly 90–100 days. Transplant out at 60 cm spacing, with rows of 30–60 cm, and this hardy perennial will return and spread for years. Yarrow copes with frost, heat, and poor soil equally well, making it a reliable choice across temperate gardens from Adelaide to Newcastle and a magnet for beneficial insects.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to November.

Growing notes

Yarrow is one of the easiest and most useful plants to establish, prized for the flat flower heads that draw hoverflies, ladybirds, and predatory wasps into the garden. It thrives on neglect in full sun and free-draining soil, and once in, it spreads by creeping roots to form a tough, drought-hardy clump. In a dry Perth or Adelaide bed it barely notices summer.

The usual failure is over-rich, over-watered ground, which produces soft, floppy growth that flops open in the middle and rarely flowers well. Keep it lean and sunny, and stake only if you have inadvertently spoiled it. Deadhead spent flowers to prompt a second flush and to slow its self-seeding.

Because yarrow spreads readily, decide early whether you want a drift or a contained clump. Lift and divide it every couple of years in autumn to keep it vigorous and to make new plants for elsewhere. Sitting it near the vegetable patch is a deliberate move: the flowers feed the very predators that keep aphids and caterpillars in check across the rest of the garden.

Yarrow at a glance

Common questions

does yarrow attract beneficial insects

Yes, strongly. The flat clusters of tiny flowers are ideal landing pads for hoverflies, ladybirds, and predatory wasps that prey on aphids and caterpillars. Planting yarrow near the vegetable garden is a well-known way to boost natural pest control.

is yarrow invasive in the garden

Yarrow spreads by creeping roots and self-seeding, so it can travel further than you intend. Grow it in a defined spot or a large pot if you want to contain it, and deadhead to limit seeding. Regular division keeps it in check and vigorous.

when to plant yarrow in Adelaide

Raise seedlings from September to November and plant out through spring, giving roots time to settle before the dry heat. Yarrow suits Adelaide's climate well, tolerating both frost and drought. Once established it needs very little water.

why won't my yarrow flower

Yarrow that is fed and watered too generously grows lush and leafy at the expense of flowers, and often flops open. Grow it in lean soil and full sun, water sparingly, and it will flower freely. Deadheading also encourages a second flush.

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