Repotting guide

When & how to repot Silvery Yarrow (Achillea clavennae)

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.

Mature size: 15–25 cm tall in flower, 30–45 cm wide

Watch for — Root rot in wet or heavy soil: The number one cause of death in cultivation. Achillea clavennae cannot tolerate waterlogged or poorly drained soil, especially in winter. Plant in raised beds or troughs with gritty, lean soil, and avoid overwatering at all times. Winter wet is far more damaging than frost.

How to tell silvery yarrow needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For silvery yarrow, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot silvery yarrow

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Silvery Yarrow's growth habit — low mat-forming, rhizomatous herbaceous perennial — sets the pace. 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.

What size pot to step silvery yarrow up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Silvery Yarrow stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot silvery yarrow

Spring or summer, while silvery yarrow is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting silvery yarrow

Repot dry. Do not water silvery yarrow for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty poor, alkaline to neutral, very well-drained stony or gritty soil ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set silvery yarrow at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep silvery yarrow completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for silvery yarrow

Silvery Yarrow wants poor, alkaline to neutral, very well-drained stony or gritty soil. Thrives in lean, gritty, alkaline or neutral soil (pH 6.5–8.0) reflecting its limestone origin. Use a mix of 50% horticultural grit with 50% loam. Rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soils cause rank growth and rot. Excellent drainage is the single most important requirement. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting silvery yarrow — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot silvery yarrow?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for silvery yarrow. Repot silvery yarrow every 2–3 years into a snug pot of poor, alkaline to neutral, very well-drained stony or gritty soil, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does silvery yarrow need?

When is the best time of year to repot silvery yarrow?

Should you water silvery yarrow after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot silvery yarrow into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise silvery yarrow after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting silvery yarrow. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.