Achillea gracilis (Eastern Yarrow)

Size: 1-3’ tall / 1-3’ wide

Sun: Full Sun - Part Shade

Soil: Well-Drained 

Bloom Time: Mid- to Late Summer

Deer Resistance: 4.5/5

Ecotype: Virginia

You may know yarrow as Achillea millefolium, and until recently, that is how the native North American yarrows were classified. Now, those native to the western US are called Achillea borealis; those to the eastern US, Achillea gracilis. If taxonomy is your thing, you can read Alan Weakley's write up on it. To differentiate A. gracilis from A. millefolium, look at the leaves-- new leaves on A. gracilis are more three dimensional, while leaflets on those of A. millefolium are flat. 

Regardless of what you call it, yarrow is a tough plant that will perform well in most gardens. The leaves add a soft, feathery texture to plantings, and the white flowers bloom from early summer into fall. (I've observed mine at home with a flower head all the way into November!) It's adaptable to wide range of conditions, preferring full to part sun, but it will even tolerate a little shade. In leaner soils, yarrow will grow low, but in rich garden soils, the leaves can get to about a 18" tall. The flower stalks will rise above these leaves to heights of 2-3'. 

For wildlife, this is a great nectar source for pollinators, particularly native bees. The painted lady butterfly uses it as a larval host. It is rarely bothered by rabbits or deer, if at all.