Description

The golden yarrow is widespread in the coastal ranges and Sierra foothills from about the latitude of Sacramento into northwestern Baja. It grows as an upright, rounded shrub with grayish green foliage. In mid-spring it is topped with clusters of bright yellow flowers for many weeks. The flower clusters are somewhat similar to those of the yarrow of the genus Achillea, which explains the common name. Golden yarrow grows in well-draining, sunny locations, though I have found that it does rather well in partial shade and accepts medium drainage. After admiring the golden blooms of this plant on a spring hike, you may wonder where it goes during the summer. Golden yarrow naturally goes dormant in mid-summer, as do many local shrubs such as coyote mint, Monardella villosa. You can plant it among other evergreen shrubs so that its dormant appearance will not detract from your garden aesthetics. Inter-planting with low growing ceanothus is one possibility. Some summer water will keep Golden Yarrow somewhat green, but it will go dormant in the winter.