Yarrow: A Permaculture Powerhouse

When looking for companion plants for my vegetable growing spaces or for my fruit tree guilds, I always look first to plants that have stacked functions. Multipurpose plants can bring more than one benefit to a growing space. Common permaculture plants favored for their multiple benefits include Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes), Comfrey, and Elderberry. Another incredible companion, which I turn to often, is Yarrow.

Common Yarrow is prevalent throughout the six-acres of my farm. I've allowed wild clusters to accumulate in my food forests, have split and planted them in my guilds, and have started bringing in various colors for visual diversity. But it's not just the aesthetics that are pleasing--yarrow is loaded with function for any growing space:

• Yarrow is a drought-resistant plant when, after established, requires minimal water.
• Pollinators are intensely attracted to yarrow blossoms, which helps to increase yields when interplanted with vegetable or fruit crops.
• Yarrow is a relatively fast-growing perennial which returns larger and more full year after year. This requires less work and, if split, additional free plants for the homestead to be used elsewhere or sold.

• Perennial plantings absorb carbon from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis. Because they are not dug up, cut excessively, nor removed annually, that carbon is sequestered within the plant tissue and soil.
• Yarrow is quick to crowd out weeds and serves as an excellent weed suppressant crop, especially in guild systems.
• There is a study which found yarrow may decontaminate soils of toxic metals. You can find more information here.
• A paper was published in 2001 about the potential of Yarrow acting as a nutrient accumulator. This means the deep root systems of yarrow draw nutrients upward from deep within the soil's sublayers. This action makes those pulled nutrients more easily accessible to nearby plants.
• The deep root systems of Yarrow help to hold soil in place, reducing erosion.
• Yarrow can actually help to rebuild soil by adding silica, phosphorous, and calcium. You can learn more about this here.
• Lastly, Yarrow is not favored by deer, rabbits, and other critters that often affect fruiting crops. A yarrow cluster or hedge can help to deter these visitors from your garden.

This incredible plant is native to much of the United States which means it's likely already hardy and well-adapted to your microclimate, serves the local ecosystem, and will not displace nor eradicate local plantings.