Common Yarrow: California’s Rare Coastal Variety Worth Protecting
Meet Achillea millefolium var. arenicola, a special coastal form of the beloved common yarrow that calls California home. While you might be familiar with the typical yarrow found in gardens across North America, this particular variety is something of a botanical treasure – and one that deserves our attention and respect.
What Makes This Yarrow Special?
This perennial forb is native to California and represents a unique coastal adaptation of the common yarrow we know and love. As a herbaceous plant (meaning it lacks woody stems), it dies back to the ground each winter and returns fresh each spring, just like its more widespread cousins.
The variety name arenicola gives us a big clue about where this plant likes to live – it literally means sand-dwelling, suggesting this yarrow has evolved to thrive in California’s sandy coastal environments.
Where You’ll Find It (Or Won’t)
Achillea millefolium var. arenicola is found exclusively in California, making it a true Golden State endemic. This limited distribution is part of what makes it so special – and so vulnerable.
A Word of Caution: This Plant is Rare
Here’s where we need to have a serious conversation. This variety has a conservation status of S5T2T3, which indicates it’s quite rare and potentially at risk. Before you get excited about adding this unique yarrow to your garden, consider this important point: only plant this variety if you can source it responsibly.
What does responsibly sourced mean? It means:
- Seeds or plants from reputable native plant nurseries
- Material that was propagated, not collected from wild populations
- Verification that your purchase supports conservation efforts rather than threatens wild stands
Should You Grow It?
If you live in California and can source this variety responsibly, it could be a wonderful addition to a native plant garden. However, given its rarity, you might want to consider growing the more common varieties of yarrow instead, which offer similar benefits without conservation concerns.
That said, if you’re passionate about preserving California’s unique flora and can obtain responsibly sourced material, growing this variety could be part of conservation efforts – just make sure you’re buying from nurseries that propagate rather than wild-collect their stock.
Growing Conditions (Best Guess)
Since specific growing information for this variety is limited, we can make educated guesses based on its coastal California origins and sandy habitat preferences:
- Well-draining, sandy soils
- Full sun to partial shade
- Tolerance for coastal conditions (salt air, wind)
- Likely drought-tolerant once established
- Mediterranean climate preferences
The Pollinator Connection
Like other yarrows, this variety likely supports beneficial insects and pollinators with its characteristic flat-topped flower clusters. Yarrows are generally excellent pollinator plants, attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout their blooming season.
Garden Design Role
In the right setting – a California native plant garden, coastal restoration project, or specialized collection – this yarrow could serve as:
- A unique specimen plant for native plant enthusiasts
- Part of a coastal California habitat garden
- A conversation starter about plant conservation
- A pollinator garden component
The Bottom Line
Achillea millefolium var. arenicola represents the incredible diversity within seemingly common plant species. While it’s tempting to want this unique variety in your garden, its rarity means we need to approach it thoughtfully. If you can’t source it responsibly, consider growing other native yarrow varieties that offer similar garden benefits without conservation concerns.
Sometimes the best way to appreciate a rare plant is to support its conservation in the wild while enjoying its more common relatives in our gardens. After all, preserving these unique varieties for future generations might be more important than having them in our own backyards.
