Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Fernleaf yarrow bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Fernleaf yarrow, Fern-leaf yarrow, Cloth of gold (Achillea filipendulina).
More about fernleaf yarrow
About Fernleaf yarrow
Achillea filipendulina · also called Fernleaf yarrow, Fern-leaf yarrow · flowering
Achillea filipendulina is a tall, robust yarrow from central and southwestern Asia, distinguished by its rich golden-yellow, plate-like flower corymbs up to 10 cm across atop sturdy stems. The finely divided, aromatic, fern-like foliage is highly ornamental. Exceptional for cutting, dried flower arrangements, and pollinator gardens. Extremely drought-tolerant and easy in full sun.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons fernleaf yarrow isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming fernleaf yarrow 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 fernleaf yarrow 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 fernleaf yarrow to flower
- Maximise sun. Give fernleaf yarrow 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 fernleaf yarrow and get the feeding right with the fernleaf yarrow 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
Fernleaf yarrow 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 fernleaf yarrow care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Fernleaf yarrow blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my fernleaf yarrow flower?
Fernleaf yarrow 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 fernleaf yarrow bloom?
Give fernleaf yarrow 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 fernleaf yarrow normally bloom?
Fernleaf yarrow flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with fernleaf yarrow after it flowers?
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.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping fernleaf yarrow flowering?
Feeding fernleaf yarrow a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Fernleaf yarrow care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Fernleaf yarrow light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Fernleaf yarrow fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 2566 bloom guides in the Growli library