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Native / Pollinator Perennial · Herbaceous perennial with a semi-evergreen basal rosette in Zone 8a

Yellow Yarrow New · Sep 2026

Achillea (yellow hybrid; likely 'Moonshine' or 'Coronation Gold')· Yellow yarrow, Moonshine yarrow, Coronation Gold yarrow

SpringSummer
Yellow Yarrow — Young Young
Seedling / just planted

Spring basal foliage of Achillea 'Coronation Gold' in mid-April: a low rosette of finely cut, ferny gray-green leaves before any flower stems have risen.

Species-level photo (not this exact cultivar).

Photo: Salicyna· CC BY-SA 4.0

Yellow Yarrow — Growing Growing
Established, filling in

Achillea 'Moonshine' in bud: silvery, felted, deeply cut foliage with woolly gray-green flower buds just forming at the stem tips, a few weeks before bloom.

Species-level photo (not this exact cultivar).

Photo: Photo by David J. Stang· CC BY-SA 4.0

Yellow Yarrow — Full grown Full grown
What you’re aiming for

Achillea 'Coronation Gold' in full summer bloom: flat mustard-gold flower plates held on stiff 2-3 ft stems above ferny foliage, the classic yellow yarrow look.

Species-level photo (not this exact cultivar).

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz· CC BY-SA 4.0

Planting window · Zone 8a, Decatur

Zone 8a Decatur: plant container plants in early fall (September-October, best) or spring (March-April).

Growing stages

What to look for, and what to do, at each point in its life

Yellow yarrow is a lean-soil, full-sun perennial (likely the hybrid 'Moonshine' or 'Coronation Gold') that holds a semi-evergreen ferny rosette through winter, blooms in flat yellow corymbs from late May through July with a lighter September rebloom after shearing, and needs regular division every 3-4 years plus sharp drainage since it is a sterile hybrid that cannot be grown true from seed.

  1. 1

    Winter Semi-Evergreen Rosette

    December through February

    You'll see A low rosette of finely dissected, aromatic, ferny foliage persists through the mild Decatur winter.

    Do Remove any mushy or fully dead leaves and old flower stems in late February; otherwise leave it alone.

  2. 2

    Spring Growth

    March through May

    You'll see Ferny foliage flushes out and flower stems begin rising from the rosette.

    Do Water weekly for the first month if newly planted, then taper off. Do not fertilize - nitrogen produces floppy stems and fewer flowers.

  3. 3

    Main Bloom

    Late May into July

    You'll see Flat-topped, plate-like corymbs of tiny yellow florets top stiff stems - pale lemon on 'Moonshine', deeper mustard-gold and larger on 'Coronation Gold'.

    Do Deadhead spent heads back to the next side bud to extend the bloom. Stake taller 'Coronation Gold' before summer storms if it gets any shade or richer soil.

  4. 4

    Midsummer Shear-Back

    July, after the main flush

    You'll see Bloom production slows and stems look spent following the main flush.

    Do Shear flower stems down to the basal foliage to tidy the clump and set up a September rebloom.

  5. 5

    Possible Summer Melt-Out

    August, in humid weather

    You'll see Foliage can collapse or blacken in the hottest, most humid stretch of summer, more common with 'Moonshine' than 'Coronation Gold'.

    Do If foliage melts out, cut it to the ground, keep the area on the dry side, and it usually resprouts in fall.

  6. 6

    Fall Rebloom

    September

    You'll see A lighter flush of flat yellow heads appears on the regrowth from the midsummer shearing.

    Do Enjoy the rebloom; no special care needed beyond normal drought-only watering.

  7. 7

    Division

    Every 3-4 years, early spring or early fall

    You'll see The clump's center dies out, bloom declines, or the planting has simply outgrown its space.

    Do Dig and divide, replanting the vigorous outer sections and discarding the dead center.

Techniques — transplant, prune, propagate, divide, seed

At a glance

Botanical name
Achillea (yellow hybrid; likely 'Moonshine' or 'Coronation Gold')
Family

Asteraceae (aster family)

Type

Herbaceous perennial with a semi-evergreen basal rosette in Zone 8a

Native range

Garden hybrids of Old World species: A. clypeolata (Balkans), A. filipendulina (Caucasus, Iran and Central Asia) and A.

Hardiness

Zones 3-8 for 'Moonshine' and 'Coronation Gold'; 3-9 for fernleaf yarrow

Height

'Moonshine' 1-2 ft; 'Coronation Gold' 2-3 ft; fernleaf yarrow types ('Cloth of Gold', 'Parker's Variety', 'Gold Plate')…

Sun

Full sun (6 or more hours). Flops and mildews in part shade.

Water

Dry to medium; drought tolerant once established. Overwatering and wet feet are the main…

Spacing

12-18 in for 'Moonshine'; 18-24 in for 'Coronation Gold' and fernleaf types

Soil

Lean, well-drained sandy or gravelly loam, pH 6-8. Avoid heavy wet clay and rich, moist,…

Care

  • Site in the hottest, driest, best-drained full-sun spot; do not fertilize (nitrogen makes floppy stems) and do not overwater.
  • Water weekly for the first month, then only in extended drought.
  • Deadhead spent heads back to the next side bud to extend bloom; after the main June-July flush, shear flower stems down to the basal foliage to tidy the clump and encourage a September rebloom.

Good to know

The tag just says Yellow Yarrow, which in Georgia garden centers almost always means 'Moonshine' or 'Coronation Gold', and occasionally a seed-grown fernleaf yarrow such as 'Cloth of Gold' or 'Parker's Variety'.

Where it fits

Pairs with other dry-soil sun lovers: Salvia greggii 'Furman's Red', coneflower, Russian sage, lavender, catmint, purple lovegrass, little bluestem, nodding onion and sedums.

Harvest

Ornamental, but cut stems for the vase when the heads are fully open and firm.

Watch for

Powdery mildew, botrytis, rust and stem or crown rot in humid, wet or crowded conditions; flopping in shade or rich soil;

Wildlife & pollinators

The flat heads are landing pads for bees, small butterflies, hover flies, lady beetles and other beneficial insects;

Toxicity

Yarrow (Achillea) is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (achillein, monoterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones): vomiting, diarrhea,…

Propagation

Division in spring or fall (best); basal stem cuttings in spring. The named hybrids do not come true from seed and are essentially sterile.

General Native / Pollinator Perennial guide
  • Fall (Sept–Nov) is the best perennial planting window in Georgia: warm soil grows roots, cool air limits stress, winter rain does the watering.
  • Plant at the same depth as the pot; in heavy clay set the crown 1" high and mound soil to it rather than digging a bathtub that holds water.
  • Mulch 2" with pine straw or shredded bark, kept an inch off the crown.
  • Water deeply 2× a week for the first month even if it rains lightly; the root ball dries faster than the bed around it.
  • Leave stems and seed heads standing over winter for birds and overwintering insects; cut back late Feb–early March.
  • Divide crowded clumps every 3–4 years in fall or early spring.
  • Edit spreaders (rhizomes and self-sown seedlings) each spring while they're small — most natives are generous.
Sources (4)