If you’re looking for a versatile and easy-to-grow companion plant, look no further than yarrow. This perennial herb is not only a pretty addition to any garden, but it offers many benefits to neighboring plants as well.
Let’s take a closer look at yarrow’s benefits, which plants make the best companions for yarrow, and how to use yarrow in your garden to maximize its potential.
Why Choose Yarrow as a Companion Plant?
Yarrow’s Benefits for Your Garden
Yarrow is an excellent addition to any garden, thanks to its many benefits. Its roots help to break up and condition the soil, making it easier for other plants to grow and absorb nutrients.
Yarrow is also a natural pest repellent, helping to keep harmful insects away from your garden.
Yarrow’s delicate white or yellow flowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and bees, which can help pollinate other plants in your garden.
What Plants Benefit from Yarrow?
Yarrow is a great companion plant for many different plants, including herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
It can help improve the growth and flavor of plants like tomatoes, peppers, and beans, while also deterring pests like aphids and beetles.
Yarrow can also help protect delicate plants like roses and lavender from black spot and other fungal diseases.
Yarrow’s strong roots help to stabilize the soil, making it a great companion for plants that need extra support, like tall sunflowers or climbing vines.
How to Grow Yarrow with Other Plants
If you want to plant yarrow as a companion plant, it’s important to choose plants that have similar growing requirements.
Yarrow prefers well-drained soil and full sun, so it’s a great companion for plants like lavender, rosemary, and thyme.
It can also tolerate partial shade and moist soil, making it a good companion for plants like beans, peas, and lettuce.
When planting yarrow with other plants, try to give each plant enough space to grow and avoid overcrowding.
Best Companion Plants for Yarrow
Common Yarrow Companions
Some of the most common yarrow companions include artemisia, echinacea, and salvia.
These plants are not only beautiful when paired with yarrow, they also have similar growing requirements and can help improve each other’s growth and flavor.
For example, echinacea and yarrow are both natural pest repellents, so planting them together can help keep harmful insects away from your garden.
Salvia and yarrow are also both drought-tolerant, making them a great pairing for hot, dry climates.
Plants that Grow with Yarrow
Yarrow can be planted alongside many different herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
Some of the best plants to grow with yarrow include basil, parsley, and cilantro, which can help improve the flavor of each other’s leaves.
Yarrow also pairs well with roses, lavender, and zinnias, which share similar growing requirements and can help attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Attract Beneficial Insects with Yarrow
One of the best things about yarrow is its ability to attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Ladybugs, bees, and butterflies all love yarrow’s delicate flowers, which provide a source of nectar and pollen.
These insects can help pollinate plants in your garden, and also help control destructive pests like aphids and mites.
To maximize the number of beneficial insects in your garden, plant yarrow alongside other nectar-rich plants like echinacea, marigolds, and cosmos.
How to Use Yarrow in Your Garden
Planting Yarrow with Other Perennials
Yarrow is a great companion plant for other perennials, including hosta, daylilies, and daisies.
These plants all have similar growing requirements and can help improve each other’s growth and appearance.
For example, yarrow’s delicate flowers can provide a natural border around hosta leaves, while daylilies can help provide shade and shelter for yarrow’s roots.
When planting yarrow with other perennials, make sure to choose varieties that will grow well in your climate and soil type.
Near Yarrow: Which Plants to Avoid
While yarrow is a great companion plant for many different plants, there are a few plants that should be avoided.
Yarrow does not grow well near plants like lettuce and spinach, which prefer moist soil and shade.
It’s also not a good companion for plants like cabbage and broccoli, which are susceptible to clubroot disease.
If you’re not sure whether yarrow will make a good companion for a particular plant, do some research or consult with a gardening expert before adding it to your garden.
Yarrow as a Companion Plant for Many Garden Crops
Yarrow is a versatile companion plant that can help improve the growth and health of many different garden crops.
It’s a great companion for plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, which can benefit from yarrow’s natural pest-repelling properties.
Yarrow also pairs well with corn, beans, and peas, which can help improve the soil and provide extra support for these tall plants.
Yarrow Companion Planting Tips
How to Keep Yarrow in Your Garden
Yarrow is a hardy and easy-to-grow plant, but there are a few things you can do to make sure it thrives in your garden.
Yarrow prefers well-drained soil, so avoid planting it in areas that are prone to standing water.
It also needs plenty of sunshine, so make sure to plant it in a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Be sure to water yarrow regularly during the growing season, especially during periods of drought or high heat.
The Best Companion Plants for Yarrow in Various Climate Zones
The best companion plants for yarrow will vary depending on your climate zone and soil type. In general, yarrow grows best in areas with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.
It prefers well-drained soil and full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade and moist soil.
If you’re not sure what plants will make good companions for yarrow in your area, consult with a gardening expert or research online to find plants that share similar growing requirements.
Yarrow Can Also Benefit from Certain Companions
While yarrow is a great companion plant for many different plants, it can also benefit from having some companions of its own.
Plants like echinacea, calendula, and borage can help attract beneficial insects to your garden, which can in turn help pollinate your yarrow plants and improve their growth and health.
Planting yarrow alongside nitrogen-fixing plants like clover and beans can help improve the soil and provide extra nutrients for your yarrow plants.
FAQ
Q: What are some good plants to plant near yarrow?
A: Some excellent companion plants for yarrow include tomatoes, rosemary, lavender, and fruit plants.
Q: Can yarrow grow near other plants?
A: Yes, yarrow can grow near other plants and actually benefits from certain plants, such as rosemary and lavender.
Q: Is yarrow a good plant to have in my garden?
A: Yes, yarrow is an excellent addition to any garden. It’s easy to grow and can benefit nearby plants.
Q: What should I know about yarrow as a companion plant?
A: Yarrow is an excellent companion plant that can help attract beneficial insects, improve soil quality, and enhance the growth of nearby plants.
Q: Can yarrow attract pests to my garden?
A: While yarrow may attract some pests, it can also repel harmful insects and attract beneficial ones, so the overall effect is positive for your garden.
Q: What are some other plants that benefit from being near yarrow?
A: Other plants that can benefit from being near yarrow include fruit-trees, herbs, and certain vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers.
Q: Is yarrow a good plant to keep in my garden long-term?
A: Absolutely. Yarrow is a hardy perennial that can live for many years and continue to benefit your garden as a companion plant.
Q: What should I know about planting yarrow in my garden?
A: Yarrow is easy to grow from seeds and can be planted in a variety of locations, either alone or with other plants.
Q: Does yarrow have any properties or benefits beyond being a companion plant?
A: Yes, yarrow has many medicinal properties, as well as being a beautiful and attractive addition to any landscape.
Q: How can I best use yarrow in my garden?
A: Yarrow can be used in a variety of ways in your garden, such as providing groundcover, attracting pollinators, and serving as a natural insecticide.
Conclusion: Get the Best Out of Yarrow with Companion Planting
Yarrow is a great addition to any garden, thanks to its many benefits and versatility as a companion plant.
By planting yarrow alongside other plants, you can improve soil health, deter pests, and attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Whether you’re growing herbs, vegetables, or flowers, yarrow can make a great companion plant and help you get the best out of your garden all season long.
