Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial flower that has become increasingly popular in gardens thanks to its beauty, versatility, and low-maintenance nature. But one of the qualities that makes yarrow especially prized is that it can be cut and come again – meaning it regrows after being cut back This allows gardeners to enjoy fresh yarrow flowers multiple times in a single growing season. But is it really as simple as just snipping off spent blooms? Here’s what you need to know about successfully growing yarrow as a cut and come again perennial.
What Does “Cut and Come Again” Mean?
When a plant is described as “cut and come again,” it means that it will continue to produce new flowers after the initial blooms are cut off or removed. So rather than flowering once and then dying back for the season cut and come again plants will generate new blooms if the faded or spent flowers are consistently pruned.
This allows gardeners to harvest multiple crops of flowers from each plant in a single growing season. It’s an especially useful quality for cutting gardens or for gardeners looking to use flowers for bouquets and arrangements all summer long.
Is Yarrow Naturally a Cut and Come Again Flower?
One of the reasons yarrow has become so popular is that it is naturally predisposed to be a cut and come again flower. The perennial produces clusters of tiny blooms on long, upright stems over the summer months. As each stem finishes flowering, new stems emerge from the base of the plant.
Deadheading or cutting back the faded flower stems before they set seed will encourage the plant to continue directing its energy into generating fresh new blooms instead of producing seeds So with proper maintenance, yarrow’s natural tendency to continually send up new stems makes it an ideal cut and come again flower
Caring for Yarrow as a Cut and Come Again Plant
While yarrow is naturally inclined to rebloom when cut back, there are a few simple care tips that can help maximize continued flower production:
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Deadhead frequently – Cutting off spent blooms encourages new growth, so deadhead yarrow regularly. Snip off individual faded flowers or cut back whole flower stalks.
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Cut back by 1/2 to 2/3 – For the biggest burst of new blooms, cut back yarrow stems by about half to two-thirds their original height once flowering slows in midsummer.
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Divide overgrown plants – Mature yarrow clumps can be divided every 2-3 years. This helps control spread and generates younger, more vigorous plants.
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Provide good drainage – Yarrow hates sitting in wet soil, so provide excellent drainage and avoid overwatering.
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Fertilize lightly – Light feedings of a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again in midsummer will fuel flower production.
How Often to Cut Back Yarrow
When harvesting yarrow for cut flower arrangements or to encourage reblooming, how often you need to cut back the plants will depend largely on the variety grown and your specific growing conditions.
Here are some general guidelines for frequency:
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Deadhead individual spent blooms at least once a week.
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Cut back flower stems by about half their height every 3-4 weeks.
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In midsummer, cut back all stems by 1/2 to 2/3 their full height.
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Stop cutting by early September so plants can prepare for winter.
The exact schedule will vary, so observe your plants and cut back the stems once blooms start to fade. Cutting every 3-4 weeks from late spring until early fall will maximize flower production in most climates.
Tips for Cutting Yarrow Blooms
When harvesting yarrow flowers for arrangements or to use as cut blooms, follow these simple tips:
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Cut stems when at least half of the individual blooms on the flower head have opened.
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Make cuts right above a leaf node or side shoot.
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Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors to ensure a clean cut that won’t damage stems.
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Cut stems to desired length and strip off any leaves that would sit below the water line.
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Place freshly cut stems immediately into clean water.
Enjoying Continuous Yarrow Blooms
One of the biggest appeals of growing yarrow is the ability to enjoy weeks of blooms from spring through fall. Taking advantage of its natural tendency to rebloom when cut back simply requires deadheading spent flowers as they fade and cutting back the flower stems every few weeks. With proper care, yarrow’s low-maintenance nature and inclination to be a cut and come again perennial means almost endless flowers for arrangements and bouquets.
Details Plant type: perennial Height: 24 to 30 in Site: full sun Days to maturity: 120 days Plant spacing: 9 in Pinch: not necessary
Vigorous, healthy, and free-flowering, this is the best yarrow mix we’ve ever grown, hands down. If seed is sown early, this perennial will flower its first year. Blooms come in shades of raspberry, peach, coral, blush, rose, and buttercream. Such a versatile range of color is a dream to work with.
Growing yarrow as a cut flower!
FAQ
Will yarrow rebloom if cut back?
Often the flowers start out one colour and fade to another. Perhaps it will fade to the peach shade from last season. If you cut it back one quarter to one third you *should* get some rebloom. If you just want to regenerate the foliage you can cut it back as much as you like.
Will yarrow bloom more than once?
Yarrow produces easygoing, long-lasting flowers that come into their own once the weather is consistently warm. Suited to most growing conditions, yarrow provides a long season of blooms all the way into fall. To encourage more flowering you can deadhead yarrow once the first flowers fade.
How do I get my yarrow to bloom again?
Pruning Yarrow To Help Blooming
The pruning technique of deadheading will force Yarrow to keep blooming much later in the summer. Cut the spent flower heads all the way back to a main stem before plants go to seed. This will spur growth of flowering side shoots.
Is yarrow cut and come again?
Yarrow is not considered to be a cut and come again. It is a medium producer. Most cut and come again type flowers produce flowers all summer long once they start to bloom. The more they are cut, the more side shoots they develop, supplying the gardener with a continuous supply of flowers throughout the season.
Should I cut back Yarrow?
Cutting back yarrow helps promote new growth and encourages the plant to produce more flowers. By cutting back yarrow at the right time of year, you are helping to ensure that the plant will have time to produce blooms before the cold winter weather sets in. Here are some tips for cutting back yarrow to ensure reblooming:
Is Yarrow a good cut flower?
Yarrow is also a wonderful cut flower – its large broad sprays of small flat-petaled flowers are a wonderful material to use in arranging, combining equally well with soft, fluffy, romantic flowers as well as it does with bolder shapes and textures.