Achillea x kellereri
Family: Asteraceae
Common names: MILFOIL, WOOLLY YARROW, YARROW
Native to: Garden Origin
Sentiment: cure for a broken heart
Plant
Type: perennial
Forms: clumping, erect
Leaves evergreen
Max height: 0.80 feet
Max width: 0.80 feet
Flower
white/off white
Leaf
green
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, beneficial insects, bird, specific butterfly species
Bird species attracted to plant: flycatcher, jay, martin, oriole, phoebe swallow, sparrow, swift
Plant part consumed by birds: insects, seeds
Plant features: evergreen
Exposure: sun
Landscape use: cut flower
Propagates by: division, seed
flowers in fall
flowers in summer
Soil type: wide range
USDA Zones: zone 5 to -20 f, zone 6 to -10 f, zone 7 to 0 f, zone 8 to +10 f, zone 9 to +20 f
Temp. range: -20 to +30 °F
Water: drought tolerant
Butterflies that feed on this plant
Achillea x kellereri, WOOLY YARROW, is a drought tolerant silver-grey evergreen perennial that grows to 3/4's of a foot tall and flowers in summer and fall. The blossoms are off-white. It can be grown in containers, or in the ground, in Zones 5-9.
______________________________________________________________________________
Achillea, also known as YARROW or MILFOIL, is a drought tolerant member of the Asteraceae family. There are 184 species of YARROW of which ten are perennials that range in height from one to three feet and grow in Zones 3-10. Over a dozen cultivated Achillea are in this database – all are drought tolerant perennials that range in height from 1 foot to 3 feet tall. Achillea ptarmica, grows to 5 feet tall.
Achillea attract a long list of specific butterflies and is a worthy addition to a wildlife friendly garden. Sightings support that Achillea millefolium attract the most diverse butterfly species but these sightings may be due to the popularity or availability of the plant, rather than proof that other cultivated YARROW species are less attractive to a broad range of butterflies.
According to the USDA “common yarrow is a weedy species and can become invasive. Proper care should be used to control the spread of the plant from its desired growing location.” Its invasive attribute may contribute to it being beneficial to wildlife. It is claimed the cultivars are less invasive. You may want to check how the parent plant behaves is in your region before purchasing any variant of A. millefolium.
Bird species attracted to the plant - to feed on insects and seeds - include flycatcher, jay, martin, oriole, phoebe swallow, sparrow, swift.