Alps Yarrow: A Lesser-Known Perennial with Limited Garden Appeal
If you’ve stumbled across the name Alps yarrow (Achillea distans), you might be wondering whether this perennial deserves a spot in your garden. While it shares a family name with the beloved common yarrow, this particular species is quite the mystery plant in the gardening world.
What Exactly Is Alps Yarrow?
Alps yarrow is a non-native perennial forb that has found its way into North America, where it now grows wild in select locations. As a forb, it’s an herbaceous plant without significant woody growth—think of it as your typical garden perennial that dies back to the ground each winter and returns in spring.
You might also see this plant listed under its synonym Achillea dentifera, but regardless of the name on the tag, you’re getting the same plant.
Where Does It Grow?
Currently, Alps yarrow has established itself in just three locations in North America: Quebec, Massachusetts, and New York. This limited distribution suggests it’s either very particular about its growing conditions or simply hasn’t had the chance to spread widely yet.
The Garden Reality Check
Here’s where things get tricky for gardeners: there’s remarkably little information available about Alps yarrow’s garden performance, growing requirements, or ornamental value. This isn’t necessarily a red flag, but it does mean you’d be taking a gardening gamble if you choose to plant it.
What we do know is that it’s a perennial, so if it does well in your garden, you can expect it to return year after year. However, without clear information about its:
- Mature size and growth rate
- Flower characteristics and blooming period
- Soil and light preferences
- Hardiness zones
- Benefits to pollinators and wildlife
It’s difficult to recommend it over better-documented alternatives.
A Better Choice: Native Yarrow Species
Since Alps yarrow is non-native and offers uncertain garden benefits, consider these native alternatives that provide proven value:
- Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Native varieties offer excellent pollinator support and drought tolerance
- Regional native wildflowers – Check with your local native plant society for species that naturally occur in your area
These alternatives will give you the reliability and ecological benefits that make gardening both successful and environmentally friendly.
The Bottom Line
While Alps yarrow isn’t listed as invasive or harmful, its limited availability of growing information and non-native status make it a questionable choice for most gardeners. Unless you’re a plant collector with a particular interest in obscure Achillea species, you’ll likely find better success and satisfaction with well-documented native alternatives that support local ecosystems while providing reliable garden performance.
Sometimes the most interesting plants aren’t necessarily the best garden plants—and Alps yarrow seems to fall into this category.
