Plant Names
Achillea borealis
Boreal Yarrow
Achillée boréale
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: White
Bloom Period: Jun - Aug
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates dry soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates dry soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Landscape Uses:
No landscape information available.
Ecological Benefits:
Butterfly host
Butterfly host
Tolerates:
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates acidic soil conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant causes skin rashes
This plant causes skin rashes
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Fun Facts
Boreal Yarrow is found in prairies, meadows, roadsides, and open woodlands. It produces clusters of small white flowers on tall stems above fern-like foliage. It is excellent for pollinator gardens, meadow plantings, and dry sunny areas. It works well in poor soils where many plants struggle. Avoid overwatering — it prefers drier conditions.
Plant Location
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Taiga Plains
- Taiga Shield
- Southern Arctic
- Boreal Plains
- Montane Cordillera
- Prairies
- Taiga Cordillera
- Boreal Cordillera
- Pacific Maritime
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Achillea borealis
-
Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria
Blackberry looper - Arpenteuse des ronces -
Depressaria alienella
Yarrow webworm -
Eupithecia absinthiata
Wormwood pug - Eupithécie de l'Absinthe -
Eupithecia miserulata
American Common Pug -
Eupithecia nimbicolor
Attenuated pug -
Gillmeria pallidactyla
Yarrow plume moth
Specialized Bees Supported by Achillea borealis
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Allium cernuum
Nodding Onion
Ail penché - Allium stellatum
Autumn Onion
Ail étoilé - Anemone cylindrica
Long-headed Anemone
Anémone cylindrique - Asclepias syriaca
Common Milkweed
Asclépiade commune - Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclépiade tubéreuse - Astragalus canadensis
Canada Milk-vetch
Astragale du Canada - Blephilia ciliata
Downy Wood Mint
Bléphilie ciliée - Capnoides sempervirens
Pink Corydalis
Corydale toujours verte - Carex brevior
Short-beaked Sedge
Carex à têtes courtes - Dalea candida
White Prairie-clover
Dalée blanche - Dalea purpurea
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalée violette - Erigeron pulchellus
Robin's Plantain Fleabane
Vergerette délicate - Lilium philadelphicum
Wood Lily
Lis de Philadelphie - Oenothera perennis
Perennial Evening-primrose
Onagre vivace - Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum
Hairy Mountain-mint
Pycnanthème poilu - Solidago juncea
Early Goldenrod
Verge d'or jonciforme
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Alliums (Non-Native Alliums)
- Thalictrum (Non-Native Meadow Rue)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow anytime
- Stratification conditions: Can be sown in Spring
- Stratification duration: 0 days
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: August
- Harvesting indicator:
- None
- Harvesting:
- None
- Seed viability test:
- None
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air Dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: None
- No harvesting video available at this time.