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Lavender companion · grow guide
Yarrow · Achillea
Yarrow wants full sun and lean, well-drained soil. Rich soil, extra fertilizer, or wet feet make it floppy and short-lived.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Low waterFast drainage
pH 6.0–8.0Soil
Zones 3a–8bHardiness
32″ tall42″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Toxic to petsPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Sassy Summer Lemon will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–8b
Spring after hard frost, or early fall at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Your year with Sassy Summer Lemon
When it arrives
Plugs are small and dry out fast. Water on arrival, keep in bright light, and harden off a week before planting. Pot 72-cell plugs into 3-4 in pots for a few weeks, or plant straight into the bed once roots hold the plug together. Plant crown-level.
Spring after hard frost, or early fall at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Set the crown (where stems meet roots) level with the soil surface. Never bury the crown.
18-24 in apart. Sneezewort (A. ptarmica) spreads faster; give it room or an edged spot.
Average to sandy or gravelly loam; tolerates poor soil · pH 6.0–8.0
Fix-it tip: In heavy clay, plant on a slight mound or raised bed and mix in grit. Skip compost-heavy amendments; rich soil causes weak, sprawling stems.
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
In shade, stems stretch and flop and colors fade. Six or more hours of sun keeps clumps tight.
Don’t give up on it
Ferny leaves often stay green over winter. New gray-green growth pushes from the base in early spring (about April in Michigan). Flower stems follow in late spring.
Clear old foliage, check for winter rot, divide if crowded.
Deadhead after the first bloom for more flowers. Water only in drought.
Leave foliage in place. No feeding.
Keep crowns out of standing water; no heavy mulch on top.
First season: Water when the top inch of soil is dry through the first summer, about once a week without rain.
After that: Very drought tolerant. Water only in long dry spells.
Usually none. Too much nitrogen gives tall, floppy stems and fewer flowers. In very poor sand, a light spring compost top-dressing is plenty.
Cut spent flower stems back to the leafy base to get a second, smaller flush. Leave basal foliage over winter; tidy in spring.
Every 3-4 years when the center thins or dies out. Lift in spring or early fall, replant the vigorous outer pieces.
Very cold hardy. Wet winter soil is the main killer, so good drainage matters more than mulch. Avoid heavy mulch over the crown.
Handles heat well. In humid summers it may get powdery mildew or flop after rain; good airflow and lean soil help.
Stems flop open in the middleLikely cause: Too much shade, water, or fertilizer
What to do: Move to full sun, stop feeding, and cut back by half in late spring to get shorter stems.
Center of clump dies outLikely cause: Normal aging of the clump
What to do: Divide in spring and replant the healthy outer sections.
White powder on leavesLikely cause: Powdery mildew
What to do: Thin crowded stems, water at the base in the morning, and cut back badly affected foliage.
Plant rots over winterLikely cause: Wet, heavy soil
What to do: Replant on a mound or in amended, gritty soil.
Yellowing lower leaves, mushy crown, or dying center mean too wet. Crisp brown leaf edges in a long drought mean it needs a soak.
ASPCA lists yarrow as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, colic, dermatitis. Usually mild; call your vet if a lot is eaten.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Use a gritty potting mix and a pot with drainage holes. Containers dry fast in summer; water when the top inch is dry.
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and winter cold. Keep it outdoors.
Best after a cold winter
Many modern yarrows bloom the first summer from plugs, but established plants flower more heavily after a normal winter.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
An ideal lavender partner: same full sun, lean, fast-draining soil, and little water. Flat flower heads contrast nicely with lavender spikes and both draw pollinators.
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