Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' (Achillea filipendulina)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Fern-leaf Yarrow, Gold Plate Yarrow, Tall Yellow Yarrow.

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.

Cold limit: USDA 3-9 · RHS H7 (-30-35°C)

What fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate''s hardiness rating actually means

Yes — fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 3-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H7 means: Hardy in the severest European continental winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 3-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 3-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

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

Is fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' cold hardy?

Yes — fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 3-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' is hardy across USDA 3-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate'?

Fern-leaf Yarrow 'Gold Plate' is rated USDA 3-9 and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 3-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to fern-leaf yarrow 'gold plate' below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.