A Detailed Guide to Yarrow Planting Methods and Key Techniques
The correct name for yarrow in the Flora of China is Yunnan yarrow (scientific name: Achillea wilsoniana Heimerl ex Hand.-Mazz.). It is a perennial herb of the genus Achillea in the Asteraceae family, with erect stems, sessile leaves, bipinnately parted leaves, numerous primary segments, lanceolate, boat-shaped paleae, and up to 16 ray florets; the ligules are white, and the flowering and fruiting period is from July to September.
It is cold-resistant and prefers warmth and moisture; it can grow normally in both full sun and partial shade. It is not particular about soil, but grows well in well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter and lime. The whole plant has the functions of detoxifying and reducing swelling, stopping bleeding, and relieving pain.
How to grow yarrow
Growing environment: Sunny places are very suitable. Because it does not do well in hot and humid environments, please grow it in a well-ventilated place.
How to get through winter: Its cold hardiness is very high, so no special measures are needed.
How to get through summer: It is inherently a bit delicate. If you are in a warm place, manage it in a well-ventilated location. If high-temperature days continue, move it to a place with half-day shade. If the rhizomes become crowded, thin them out and improve ventilation.
Watering: When grown in a garden, it can rely on rain. For plants grown in pots, water thoroughly once the soil surface dries. It likes a dry environment, so be careful not to water too much.
Fertilizer: It is a plant that can grow even in its natural habitat and does not need much fertilizer. When grown in a garden, there is almost no need to fertilize. For plants grown in pots, use slow-release fertilizer as a base fertilizer. While managing it, apply slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn.
Planting and transplanting
Planting: The best time to plant is from March to April in spring and from mid-September to October in autumn. When planting in a garden, if drainage is poor, mix soil into the ground to create a well-drained environment. In the case of potted plants, use commercially available flower-growing soil, make a soil mix with slow-release fertilizer added to ordinary compost, and cover it with materials such as akadama.
Replanting: For potted plants, replant once every 1-2 years. If the rhizomes become crowded, divide them and plant them in fresh soil. When grown in a garden, they can be left in place for several years, but if the clump becomes crowded, growth will worsen, so replant them again.
Deadheading: Cut back dry stems after flowering. In summer, please gently hold the flowers to prevent moisture buildup. In autumn, new flower buds grow on young shoots, and we switch back to the ground.
How to propagate (seeds, shoots, seeds): It can be propagated by division, shoot cuttings, and seedlings.
Rhizome division: The best time is from March to April and from mid-September to October when replanting. Please plant the rhizomes you dig up so that each division gets 4-5 buds.
Shoot cuttings: The best time is from May to June. Cut the tips of new shoots from the spring growth to about 8 to 10 cm and insert them. After removing the lower leaves and planting, insert them into cutting soil. Keep them in a bright, shaded place with water managed and wait for roots to grow.
Sowing: The best time is April and May, and late September to October. Before sowing, supply water overnight. In containers, wood, or wooden boxes, cover the soil to hide the seeds. When there are 2 or 3 true leaves and roots have formed, raise them in a pot and plant them. If there is a very small seedling planted in autumn, they will be planted in spring.
Diseases/pests: In hot and humid environments, powdery mildew, gray mold, and the like may appear. In warm places, please grow it in as cool a place as possible and suppress the occurrence of pests and diseases.