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Moonshine Yarrow (Achillea clypeolata), whole plant
  • Moonshine Yarrow — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Moonshine Yarrow — seasonal appearance
  • Moonshine Yarrow in a garden setting

Moonshine Yarrow

Achillea clypeolata

Easy · Beginner friendly

About Moonshine Yarrow

Balkan Yarrow is a short silver-leaved perennial yarrow producing flat clusters of golden-yellow flowers above mats of silver-gray finely divided foliage. Growing 12 to 18 inches tall, it is a parent of many modern hybrid yarrows including the Moonshine series. Popular in American xeric borders, cottage gardens, and silver-themed plantings.

  • Cut-flower
  • Drought-tolerant
  • Deer-resistant
  • Pollinator-friendly
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -40°F (-40°C)
USDA hardiness zones 3–8

How to care for Moonshine Yarrow

Watering

  • Springevery 7 days
  • Summerevery 5 days
  • Fallevery 10 days
  • Winterevery 21 days

Soil · Well-draining

  • Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
  • Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
  • DrainageLECA / gravel20%

Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.

FERTILIZER

  • Springevery 60 days
  • Summerevery 90 days
Get watering reminders for Moonshine Yarrow — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeEurope, North America
  • Height1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m)
  • Spread1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m)
  • Flower colorYellow
  • Foliage colorGreen, Silver
  • SoilSandy, Well-drained, Neutral
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

Jun–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Flat gold flower clusters early to midsummer

Fragrance

MODERATE FRAGRANCE

The foliage has a camphor-scented when brushed scent.

Toxicity

Humans Slight · Pets Slight

sesquiterpene lactones

Slight

  • Leaf
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Touching leaves.

EFFECT Contact dermatitis in sensitive people.

NOTE Documented concern for humans: Contact dermatitis in sensitive people.

Slight

  • All
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating any part of the plant.

EFFECT Vomiting and diarrhea.

NOTE ASPCA lists yarrow (Achillea) as toxic to dogs and cats; mild GI upset expected.

Slight

  • All
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating any part of the plant.

EFFECT Vomiting and diarrhea.

NOTE ASPCA lists yarrow (Achillea) as toxic to dogs and cats; mild GI upset expected.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Moonshine Yarrow · Native
  • Native
  • Introduced
  • Europe
  • North America

History

Illustrated historical scene for Moonshine Yarrow

Achillea clypeolata grows on stony mountain slopes across Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, and Macedonia. The English botanists John Sibthorp and James Edward Smith described it in Flora Graeca (compiled 1790s, published posthumously from 1806). Local herbalists used its leaves as a minor wound and digestive remedy, continuing broader Mediterranean yarrow traditions.

The species attracted horticultural attention for its intense sulfur-yellow blooms and silvery foliage. In 1937 Alan Bloom of Bressingham Gardens crossed it with A. 'Taygetea' to produce 'Moonshine', which won an RHS Award of Garden Merit and remains one of the most planted yarrows worldwide. 'Coronation Gold' followed in 1952 from Percy Picton, named for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Native to the Balkan Peninsula including Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Moonshine Yarrow can symbolize the silver shield, its pale leaves and flat clusters resembling the bucklers of ancient warriors. As heritage parent of the legendary 'Moonshine' cultivar, it passes on a lineage of luminous gold blooms cherished in cottage borders. This yarrow suggests protection and inheritance, of beauty handed down through generations of the gardener's craft.

  • Silver shield — silver leaves and shield-shaped flower clusters
  • Heritage parent — parent of legendary 'Moonshine' yarrow

Where the Name Comes From

'clypeolata' from Latin means small-shielded, likely referring to the flat shield-like flower head shape.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Moonshine Yarrow perennial used in cottage and naturalistic borders
  • Moonshine Yarrow flowers nourish foraging bees and pollinators

Related plants

More Achillea plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Moonshine Yarrow?

In summer, water about every 5 days; in winter, about every 21 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Moonshine Yarrow need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Moonshine Yarrow toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Slight (Dogs Slight · Cats Slight) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Moonshine Yarrow easy to grow?

Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.

When does Moonshine Yarrow bloom?

It typically blooms Jun–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.

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