Yarrow is a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant perennial hardy in zones 3–9 — it grows in poor soil where most flowering plants give up, blooms from early summer through fall with deadheading, and comes back every year without replanting. Flat-topped flower clusters attract bees, predatory wasps, and ladybugs. The stems cut and dry well. It's genuinely hard to kill once established.
KVITER offers three yarrow flower seeds for sale: White, Red, and Gold — all open-pollinated, non-GMO, and packed at 7,000 seeds per packet. If you want to seed a meadow edge, stabilize a slope, or build out a proper pollinator border, that amount is perfect for you.
Yarrow Seed Varieties for Planting
White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is native yarrow — the same species that seeds itself along roadsides and into open meadows across all 48 states without anyone's help. White clusters, ferny aromatic foliage, spreads by both rhizome and seed. It's the most aggressive of the three, which makes it the right call for large-scale habitat work, erosion-prone slopes, and anywhere you want ground covered and pollinators fed without replanting every year.
Red Yarrow (Achillea millefolium Rubra) shares the same bones as White but was bred for color: deep rose to near-crimson heads that fade to a warm dusty pink rather than going brown when dried. It spreads less than straight millefolium, which makes it easier to manage in a structured border. For cutting gardens it's the better choice. It has longer vase life, better color retention after drying, and it won't quietly colonize the bed next to it over a few seasons.
Gold Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) is a separate species, and it looks the part. Taller — up to 4 feet — with rigid stems and large plate-like heads in deep mustard gold. It blooms later than both millefolium types and holds its flowers longer into the season. The slowest spreader of the three. Florists have used dried filipendulina heads for decades because the color holds exceptionally well — not just weeks, but months. If you've seen yarrow in a professional dried arrangement, it was probably this one.
When to plant — USDA zone guide
Yarrow doesn't need to be started indoors. It's one of the few perennials that actually does better when direct-sown — the seedlings that fight through real outdoor conditions tend to establish faster than anything grown under lights.
In Zones 3–4, the last frost typically falls between May 15 and 31. Direct sow in spring from May 1 to June 1, or sow in fall from September 1 to 30. Expect first blooms in late summer of Year 2.
In Zones 5–6, the last frost typically falls between April 15 and 30. Direct sow in spring from April 1 to May 1, or sow in fall from September 15 to October 15. Expect first blooms in midsummer, either Year 1 or Year 2.
In Zones 7–8, the last frost typically falls between March 15 and 31. Direct sow in spring from March 1 to April 1, or sow in fall from October 1 to November 1. Expect first blooms in early summer of Year 1.
In Zones 9–10, the last frost typically falls between February 1 and 15. Direct sow in spring from February 15 to March 15, or sow in fall from October 15 to November 15. Expect first blooms in late spring of Year 1.
Two windows work: early spring and fall.
Spring sowing is the standard approach. Sow outdoors after the last frost date when soil has started to warm but nights are still cool. Yarrow germinates better with some moisture in the ground, and spring conditions in most US zones deliver exactly that before summer heat sets in.
Fall sowing is underused and genuinely worth considering. Broadcast seeds in late September or October directly onto prepared soil. Cold winter temperatures provide natural stratification — the seeds essentially do nothing until soil warms in spring, then germinate on their own schedule. No intervention required. Seedlings that emerge this way are notably more cold-hardy than spring-sown plants and establish quickly once temperatures rise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yarrow Seeds
Can I buy yarrow seeds in bulk at KVITER?
Every packet is 7,000 seeds — that is the bulk option. For quantities beyond standard packets, contact KVITERseeds.com directly for restoration or commercial inquiries.
Can I save seeds from these varieties?
White saves reliably as straight species. Red Yarrow may drift toward white over generations if wild yarrow grows nearby — cross-pollination within millefolium types is common. Gold (filipendulina) saves cleanly because it won't cross with millefolium at all.
