Achillea, Greek Yarrow 'Moonshine'
Achillea
Family: | Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Achillea (ak-ih-LEE-a) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Moonshine |
Hybridized | by Bloom |
Synonym: | Achillea taygetea |

Category:
Alpines and Rock Gardens
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Herbaceous
This plant is resistant to deer
Foliage Color:
Bronze
Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Bright Yellow
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are good for cutting
Flowers are good for drying and preserving
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
El Mirage, Arizona
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Alamo, California
Aliso Viejo, California
Amesti, California
Chico, California
Clayton, California
Corralitos, California
Elkhorn, California
Fairfield, California
Glen Avon, California
Interlaken, California
Los Angeles, California
Newark, California
Oildale, California
Pajaro, California
Pedley, California
Redwood City, California
Rubidoux, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
San Leandro, California
Sunnyslope, California
Watsonville, California
Aurora, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado(2 reports)
Seymour, Connecticut
Cordele, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois(2 reports)
Hampton, Illinois
Lake In The Hills, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Saint Charles, Illinois
Fishers, Indiana
Atalissa, Iowa
Pacific Junction, Iowa
Olathe, Kansas
Princeton, Kansas
Hebron, Kentucky
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Commerce Township, Michigan
Pinconning, Michigan
Albertville, Minnesota
Hopkins, Minnesota
Kasota, Minnesota
Luverne, Minnesota
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Pontotoc, Mississippi
Hartsburg, Missouri
Lincoln, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Sparks, Nevada
Wilmot, New Hampshire
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Clinton Corners, New York
Medford, New York
Phoenicia, New York
Port Washington, New York
Poughkeepsie, New York
Yorktown Heights, New York
Belfield, North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota
Pembina, North Dakota
Hilliard, Ohio
Springboro, Ohio
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Chiloquin, Oregon
Gold Hill, Oregon
Sherwood, Oregon
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Prosperity, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee
Colleyville, Texas
Garland, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Farmington, Utah
Tooele, Utah
Clinton, Washington
MOXEE, Washington
Renton, Washington
Charleston, West Virginia
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Jan 14, 2018, Soylent from Denver, CO wrote: A no-care winner! After establishment in clay-loam I have not provided supplemental water (Denver is typically under 20" of rain a season) or fertilization. These guys are down by the sidewalk and street. Though not sprawling, they are pretty expansive in terms of width. Two plants pretty much fill a four foot wide bed. I'm transplanting a couple to give a red varietal yarrow I put between two moonshines some room to prosper. |
Positive | On Oct 16, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: The flower color is softer, lighter, and closer to lemon yellow than A. x 'Coronation Gold', and the scapes are shorter. |
Positive | On Jul 7, 2012, flowrjunkie from Playa del Carmen, Yarrow is gopher food in this area. Rescued the yarrow, which I now protect by planting it in large planters, which I then sink into the ground, hiding the pots. Love the brightness of this Moonshine Yarrow. |
Neutral | On Jun 6, 2012, plantgnome1 from nowhere land, NY (Zone 6b) wrote: Beautiful Color grows well, however in full sun the stems are not strong enough to be erect and needed to be tied up and anchored to a fence or else it was laying on the ground. Never saw a yarrow do this. |
Positive | On Jun 16, 2011, ms_greenjeans from Hopkins, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: This is a nice variety of yarrow, and not as aggressive as others I've had. I planted mine near some purple clematis and love the combination. |
Positive | On Mar 29, 2011, Pinnie from Newark, CA wrote: This plant did very well in full sun. Mine dont seems to stand up so tall about 12 inch tall but it try to spread alot. I cant believe it bloom all the way through winter! While other plant are in dormancy this guys just keep blooming, make winter bright and yellow. Don't need much care I water them once a week in the summer and ferterlize 2 times a year. I'm not an experience gardener in any level ,this plant is easy to grow. |
Positive | On Feb 21, 2011, brfoley76 from Los Angeles, CA wrote: I grabbed a cutting from a plant growing near a local beach. I love the smell of the foliage! Maybe my favorite smelling yarrow. |
Positive | On May 25, 2008, straea from Somerville, MA (Zone 6b) wrote: Planning a xeric-centric garden last year, one of the things I focused on was silver-leaved plants. Thus, one of the first things I planted was 'Moonshine'. It has done stupendously in harsh conditions - slope, hot, dry, windy, poor soil, right by a busy road. I planted two last year and both did well last year - the one further up the slope actually doing BETTER than the one a bit down it! - and have survived the winter (winter-kill being more common than I would have originally expected with yarrows here). When I went on vacation to New Mexico I saw this particular cultivar planted in literally nearly every landscaping design, from big public ones to small home gardens - so I imagine it's as xeric in other conditions as it has been for me here. I've heard others complain that it has... read more |
Positive | On Apr 28, 2008, outdoorlover from Enid, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Mine gets to be 24 to 30" tall and requires fencing to hold it up, probably due to a little more water and feed than it likes normally. Still a beautiful multi-season plant. I have had good luck in dividing and moving it to different parts of the yard. It does much better in full sun than part sun. Part sun also causes it to flop over and it needs fencing. |
Positive | On Sep 18, 2007, BlackDogKurt from Seymour, CT wrote: Great looking flowers. The yellow contrasts strikingly with some Sarastro Camanula blue bellflowers planted next to them. And the silvery green foliage makes an interesting look even when they are not flowering. |
Positive | On Sep 22, 2005, Scorpioangel from Gold Hill, OR (Zone 7a) wrote: By far my favorite Yarrow .... the plant stays upright on stout stems, once established likes to be on the dry side, Makes a wonderful dried flower bouquet, the color holds very well when dried. |
Positive | On Jun 23, 2005, Gindee77 from Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) wrote: This plant seems to love dry conditions and it attracts butterflies. |
Neutral | On Apr 2, 2005, SalmonMe from Springboro, OH (Zone 6a) wrote: Deadhead faded flowers to lateral flower buds. After all blooms have faded, cut down to basal foliage. Deadheading can prevent the rampant reseeding of this plant. Requires well-draining soil. Does not like wet conditions. |
Positive | On Mar 24, 2005, nevadagdn from Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote: This plant is attractive and EXTREMELY xeric once established. My cat likes to nap in the crown of the plant, and the plant doesn't suffer one bit. |
Positive | On Jan 29, 2005, pokerboy from Canberra, A beautiful achillea, this plant has bright yellow flowers atop of ferny silvery gray foliage. Wonderful drought tolerant plant to grow. pokerboy. |
Positive | On Dec 20, 2004, hanna1 from Castro Valley, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: large flat clusers of sulphur-yellow flowers, June to September. Fern-like gray-green leaves. Bright yellow, long lasting. Well drained border. It is self-supporting if not cut back in Fall, the frosted flower heads provide interest in the winter. Average growth. Foliage may aggrevate skin allergies. Fully hardy. Stake blooms using bamboo canes as they are heavy. Lift and divide large clumps in late Fall or in Spring. Mine is blooming right now??? |