Lavender is a very popular drought-resistant Mediterranean perennial that even those who are totally new to gardening can easily identify by its signature purple blooms. One of the shrub’s best potential companion plants, however, tends to be a bit less well-known: yarrow. The gorgeous silver-green perennial herb comes in a wide variety of flower colors that can perfectly coordinate with lavender. The two plants grow to similar heights and can thrive in low-nutrient soil with very little watering. They also like abundant sunlight and require nearly no maintenance, making them the perfect candidates to serve as companion plants to one another.
So, whether you’ve been searching to add visual interest to your lavender bed or are looking for two plants that can co-exist in similar conditions, lavender and yarrow are the duo for you. Consider this your guide to planting and caring for these two plants as a complementary pair in your next low-maintenance garden or landscape.
How to plant lavender and yarrow together
While yarrow is extremely easy to grow from seed outdoors, lavender can be rather challenging to start on your own. Lavender seeds can take up to a month or more to germinate and must be started indoors in sterile soil. Therefore, it is best to propagate lavender from cuttings and plants once a root system is established. If your goal is to plant lavender and yarrow together, you may wish to buy both as seedlings that are around the same size. The plants will then remain similarly sized as they grow.
Both lavender and yarrow should be planted in the late spring or early summer in very well-draining sandy soil that is low in nutrients. Unlike lavender, yarrow can thrive in soil that is rich in nutrients. However, this can lead to excessive, uncontrolled spreading. Planting yarrow in the type of low-nutrient soil that is preferred by lavender can keep the plant’s tendency to spread under control. Both yarrow and lavender require full sun for as many hours per day as possible, so plant them together in the sunniest location you can find.
How to care for lavender and yarrow together
Once you’ve planted your lavender and yarrow in a sunny, sandy location, there isn’t much maintenance required for either plant. Both are drought-resistant and neither require the addition of fertilizer or supplemental soil nutrients of any kind. When your lavender and yarrow plants are young and not yet fully established, they will benefit from more watering than they will require once they become fully grown. For their first season, water your lavender and yarrow beds once each week.
After the first growing season, your lavender and yarrow beds will only need to be watered when their soil looks and feels completely dry. This might mean watering as infrequently as once every three or four weeks, depending on humidity levels. While this may feel counterintuitive, trust the process. Both species are drought-resistant plants that can quickly develop root rot if overwatered. Instead, sit back and enjoy your beautiful, fragrant, ultra-low-maintenance flower beds.
