It’s no surprise that I’ve been getting a lot of questions about yarrow seeds lately—they’re really small and hard to spot. As someone who has grown yarrow for years, I can’t wait to share everything I know about finding and growing these wonderful seeds.
What Exactly Are Yarrow Seeds?
Let me break down what you’re looking for when hunting yarrow seeds:
- Size: Super tiny! (like, seriously tiny – about 350,000 seeds per ounce!)
- Color: Light brown to grayish
- Texture: Soft and fluffy when fresh, smoother when dried
- Shape: Oblong with a tapered end
- Special feature: They have tiny hairs (called pappus) when fresh
The Life Stages of Yarrow Seeds
Stage 1: Fresh on the Plant
When you first spot them on the plant, you’ll see:
- Dense, flattened clusters on tall stems
- Up to 100 tiny seeds per cluster
- Green color that gradually changes
Stage 2: Ready for Harvest
The seeds are good to go when:
- Color turns reddish-brown or tan
- Seed heads become darker
- They feel dry and brittle
- Seeds fall easily when you shake the heads
Stage 3: Stored Seeds
After some storage time
- Color lightens to beige or grayish
- Most of the fluffy stuff falls off
- Surface becomes smoother
Growing Your Yarrow Seeds
Here’s my tried-and-true method for starting yarrow from seed:
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Sowing Time Options:
- Indoor start: 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Direct sowing: After last frost has passed
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Planting Tips
- Don’t bury them! They need light to germinate
- Just press them gently into the soil surface
- Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
- Optimal temp: 60-70°F
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What to Expect:
- Germination: 10-14 days (sometimes as quick as 2 days!)
- First leaves (cotyledons) look different from adult leaves
- True leaves appear around 2 weeks after sprouting
My Personal Experience with Yarrow Seedlings
I gotta tell ya, watching yarrow grow from seed is pretty exciting! Here’s what I’ve seen in my garden:
First Two Weeks
- Tiny sprouts pop up
- First leaves (cotyledons) are rounded
- Don’t freak out – these don’t look like adult yarrow yet!
Weeks 2-4
- Real yarrow leaves start showing up
- Leaves get those classic deep lobes
- Some varieties might show color (like my red ones did!)
Pro Tips for Success
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Collecting Seeds:
- Wait for brown seed heads
- Pop them in a paper bag upside down
- Give the bag occasional shakes
- Sieve out the debris
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Storage:
- Keep in airtight container
- Store in cool, dry spot
- They’ll stay good for 2-3 years
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t plant too deep – remember, they need light!
- Don’t worry when the first leaves die off – that’s normal
- Don’t overwater – yarrow likes it on the drier side
Wrapping It Up
It’s not hard to grow yarrow from seeds, but you do need to know what you’re doing. It’s easy to grow these pretty plants once you know what to look for and how to handle the tiny seeds.
Feel free to leave more questions about yarrow seeds in the comments. I love helping other gardeners do well. Also, don’t forget to check back for updates as I write more about my yarrow growing adventures.
Remember, patience is key when growing from seed. But trust me, when those gorgeous flower clusters start blooming, it’s totally worth the wait!
Growing Yarrow From Seed
Growing yarrow from seed is fairly easy, and planting the seeds indoors gives them a head start on the season.
When starting seeds indoors, planting 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost gives potential for first year flowering.
These seeds can also be winter sown, and do very well with this sowing method. If grown in colder places, winter-sown plants might not have time to flower in their first season.
Yarrow can also be directly sown into a prepared garden bed. Direct sowing can be done in the spring or in the late fall.
The plants will also readily self seed, so if you have an established bed of yarrow, the plants can perpetuate themselves through reseeding.
For this post, I’ll talk about how to grow yarrow from seeds inside, which can help you get flowers the first year if you start it at the right time.
Planting The Seeds Indoors
- Put the seeds in a cell tray that has been filled with good seed starting mix.
- On top of each cell in the tray, make a hole that the seeds can fit into. You can plant the very small seeds right on top of the soil.
- Do not put anything over the seeds; they need light to grow.
- It is important to keep the soil moist while the seeds are germinating. Bottom water to do this. Bottom water as needed.
- Warm the soil by putting it on a heat mat and leaving it there until 60% of the seeds have germinated. New seeds will sprout pretty quickly, sometimes in as little as two weeks.
- At this point, take the seedlings off the heat mat and put them under a grow light to keep them bright until spring, when they can be moved outside.
- For healthy, strong plants, give them 14 to 16 hours of light every day.
How to Collect and Extract Yarrow Seeds | Achillea Millefolium| Pollinator Garden | BirdofParadise
FAQ
Can I just scatter yarrow seeds?
Yarrow can also be directly sown into a prepared garden bed. Direct sowing can be done in the spring or in the late fall. The plants will also easily spread their seeds, so if you already have a bed of yarrow, the plants can keep growing by reseeding.
Is yarrow hard to grow from seed?
Growing yarrow from seed is generally considered easy. It’s a hardy plant that readily establishes itself and is often propagated through seeds, root division, or cuttings.
When to harvest common yarrow seeds?
Yarrow seed matures in summer/fall. Seed is ready to harvest when the flowers have dried brown. Store seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 2 years.