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Moonshine’ yarrow is a compact, clump-forming herbaceous perennial and member of the aster family, Asteraceae that also includes goldenrod, daisy, and lettuce. It is a hybrid between A. clypeolata and A. taygetea and is one of the best yarrows available. The fern-like leaves are gray-green and deeply dissected. The small sulphur-yellow flowerheads appear in dense, flat-topped clusters (corymbs) two to three inches in diameter. Flowering begins in early summer and may continue until fall in mild climates but tends to decline and melt out in hot humid ones where the plants may last only a couple of years. If grown in overly moist or fertile soil, plants may become leggy and require staking. Flowers are good for fresh or dried bouquets but must be cut when the pollen first appears for maximum longevity in the vase.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Small sulphur-yellow flowerheads in dense, flat-topped clusters (corymbs) two to three inches in diameter beginning in early summer and possibly continuing until fall
Size: 1-2’ H x 1’ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average to lean, medium moist to dry, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Care: Cut back when plants decline to encourage rebloom in fall.
Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to botrytis rot, powdery mildew, rust
Propagation: Division anytime during the growing season
Companion plants: Geranium ‘Johnson Blue’, Veronica “Sunny Border Blue’, Globe thistle (Echinops ritro), Salvia ‘May Night’, Catmint (Nepeta faassenii), Russian sage (Pervoskia atriplicifolia)
Karen Meyers