Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Fern-leaf Yarrow, Gold Plate Yarrow, Tall Yellow Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina).

More about fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate'

About Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate'

Achillea filipendulina · also called Fern-leaf Yarrow, Gold Plate Yarrow · flowering

Achillea filipendulina 'Gold Plate' is a tall, stately yarrow producing large, flat-topped golden-yellow flower heads up to 15 cm across on rigid stems from midsummer into early autumn. The aromatic, finely divided fern-like foliage is attractive even when not in flower. Drought-tolerant and excellent for cutting and drying. Yarrow is toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Aphids: Colonies occasionally cluster on new growth and flower stems; spray with a strong jet of water or apply insecticidal soap.

The reasons fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' to flower

Maximise sun. Give fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' and get the feeding right with the fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' flower?

Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' bloom?

Give fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' normally bloom?