Yarrow isn’t just a perennial; it’s a total winter warrior. This means it can happily stay put in its favorite garden spot all year long, coming back season after season to show off those bright white clusters and fill the air with its signature scent.
Is Yarrow Winter Hardy?
The short answer is: absolutely! Yarrow is a tough-as-nails herb that can handle the cold without breaking a sweat. You can leave it right in its spot in the garden year-round—no need to dig it up and replant it when spring rolls around. In fact, yarrow is so naturally resilient that you don’t even need to worry about extra frost protection or fancy winter gear for it.
Caring for Yarrow in the Winter
When it comes to maintenance, yarrow is just as low-key in the winter as it is in the summer. The only thing to watch out for is the soil drying out completely. If you’re having a particularly dry winter without much snow, give it a little water on days when the ground isn’t frozen just to keep the root ball happy.
You generally don’t need to worry about fertilizing, since yarrow is great at pulling what it needs straight from the soil. However, tossing down a natural mulch of leaves or brush in the fall is a great idea. It helps keep moisture in the ground and slowly adds nutrients back into the soil as it breaks down.
As for those dried-up stems? You’ve got options. You can prune them back in the fall, or leave them standing until spring. A lot of gardeners (myself included!) love the way the dried stalks look covered in frost. Just keep an eye on them—if they start looking mushy or rotten, it’s best to clear them out sooner rather than later.
Stocking Up for the Winter
One of the best things about yarrow is that it’s edible and works wonders as a medicinal plant. It’s a go-to for teas, juices, tinctures, and even soothing bath soaks.
Since the plant goes dormant in the winter, you’ll want to harvest and preserve those aromatic bits during the summer. That way, you’ll have a stash ready to go when the blooming season is over.
Here are a few easy ways to preserve your yarrow for the winter:
- Dry the flowers and leaves.
- Preserve the shoots by boiling/canning.
- Press the plant for juices to make teas or tinctures.
- Create alcohol-based extracts like liqueurs or bitters.
