Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 11,682 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Yarrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow /ˈjæroʊ/ or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has been introduced as a feed for livestock in places like New Zealand and Australia. However, it is a weed in those places and sometimes also in its native regions.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Yarrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3,550 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 868 | July | May–Sep |
| Oregon | 607 | June | May–Aug |
| Colorado | 491 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 435 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 399 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 390 | June | May–Aug |
| North Carolina | 371 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 367 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 349 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 333 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Utah | 331 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 292 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 253 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kentucky | 227 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 220 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 206 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey | 186 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 171 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 155 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 146 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alaska | 141 | July | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 114 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 113 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 109 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 98 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 81 | June | May–Aug |
| Montana | 72 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 69 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 67 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Arkansas | 61 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 53 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 48 | May | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 42 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Delaware | 38 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Dakota | 37 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 36 | June | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 35 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 27 | June | Jun–Jul |
| South Dakota | 27 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 21 | May | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 12 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Nebraska | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Kansas | 7 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 6 | May | May–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
brown-eyed Susan
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Common Yarrow?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to August.
Where is Common Yarrow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Oregon.