Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Silvery Yarrow (Achillea clavennae)— schedule & NPK
Also called Silvery Yarrow, Clavenna's Yarrow, White Yarrow.
More about silvery yarrow
About Silvery Yarrow
Achillea clavennae · also called Silvery Yarrow, Clavenna's Yarrow · flowering
Achillea clavennae is a low-growing alpine yarrow from the limestone mountains of central and southern Europe, forming silvery-white, finely dissected foliage mats topped with small white daisy-like flowerheads from early to midsummer. Extremely drought and heat tolerant once established, it is ideal for dry rock gardens, gravel gardens, and sunny alpine troughs.
Growth habit: Low mat-forming, rhizomatous herbaceous perennial
What fertiliser silvery yarrow actually wants — and why
Silvery Yarrow is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for silvery yarrow: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed silvery yarrow, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For silvery yarrow:
Little to no feeding required. Achillea clavennae grows naturally in nutrient-poor limestone soils. An annual topdress of grit around the plant is more beneficial than fertiliser. If growth appears very weak, a single application of a low-nitrogen slow-release granular feed in spring is sufficient. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when silvery yarrow is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for silvery yarrow
Half strength is the safe default for silvery yarrow — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water silvery yarrow first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the silvery yarrow watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding silvery yarrow
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for silvery yarrow:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding silvery yarrow
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full silvery yarrow care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of silvery yarrow with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for silvery yarrow
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising silvery yarrow — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does silvery yarrow need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Silvery Yarrow is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed silvery yarrow?
Little to no feeding required. Achillea clavennae grows naturally in nutrient-poor limestone soils. An annual topdress of grit around the plant is more beneficial than fertiliser. If growth appears very weak, a single application of a low-nitrogen slow-release granular feed in spring is sufficient. Little to no feeding required. Achillea clavennae grows naturally in nutrient-poor limestone soils. An annual topdress of grit around the plant is more beneficial than fertiliser. If growth appears very weak, a single application of a low-nitrogen slow-release granular feed in spring is sufficient. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for silvery yarrow?
Half strength is the safe default for silvery yarrow — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding silvery yarrow look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding silvery yarrow year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of silvery yarrow?
Flush the pot of silvery yarrow with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Silvery Yarrow care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water silvery yarrow — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise gray goldenrod
- How to fertilise zigzag goldenrod
- How to fertilise solidago 'fireworks'
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library