White Yarrow Plants

White Yarrow Varieties

• Greek yarrow (Achillea ageratifolia) is a nonnative yarrow species with white flowers from the Balkan nations and Greece. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has a wide distribution across the globe, growing native in Europe and Asia. Introduced to North America during the colonial times, common yarrow spread until it has a range across most of the continent. Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) is a form of yarrow from northern states and Canada. White is one of the flowers colors of a variety of yarrow cultivars known as the Summer Pastels Group. Snow Sport is a yarrow cultivar form with white flowers.

Geography

• Yarrows with white flowers grow in climates as cold as those found in the regions covered by U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 3. In addition to tolerance to cold, these yarrows withstand heat and humidity, with all of them growing into at least USDA zone 8. Common yarrow and Achillea ptarmica are suitable white-flowering yarrows for zone 9.

Size and Foliage

• The smallest of these yarrow species is Greek yarrow, growing to between 6 and 8 inches tall and featuring grayish-green foliage. Common yarrow develops between 2 and 3 feet high, with leaves resembling ferns. The foliage is fragrant and is a medium green shade. Snow Sport matures to 30 inches, with dark green, fern-like leaves. The Summer Pastel group yarrows with white flowers possess similar foliage as Snow Sport and they grow between 18 and 24 inches. Achillea ptarmica's leaves are lance shaped and the plant grows to 2 feet high.

Uses

• Small enough to serve as ground cover, Greek yarrow resists drought and rabbits and deer normally leave it alone. Greek yarrow is also appropriate as a container plant. The flowers look like white pompoms on Achillea ptarmica, making it a candidate for perennial borders. Use common yarrow in venues such as wild gardens, naturalized areas and cottage gardens, taking advantage of its ability to grow in poor quality soils to fill in barren areas. Snow Sport and those white yarrows from the Summer Pastel group work well in borders.