Chives vs Yarrow - TreeTime.ca

Chives vs Yarrow

Allium schoenoprasum

Achillea borealis (Previously Achillea millefolium)

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NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

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Chives
Yarrow

Chives are small bulbous perennials commonly used as herbs in cooking for a mild onion like flavour. Chives also add ornamental benefits to your yard with their tubular grass-like leaves and clusters of pale purple flowers. The flower heads can also be used as a garnish or in oils.

It is best to harvest Chives from the base to maintain the attractive clumps. If the flowers are not dead-headed, it will self-seed. Planting our overwintered chives will give you a head start in your vegetable garden.

Yarrow is a herbaceous, native wildflower that is found across Canada. It features large, flat clusters of tiny white flowers. The blooms attract a variety of pollinators, making it an ideal choice for pollinator gardens. While partial shade is tolerated, the best flowering occurs in full sun. Yarrow is resistant to deer and rabbits, making it both a beautiful and practical addition to your landscape.

The entire plant is edible, but leaves and flowers are most commonly consumed. They have a strong licorice scent and a mild sweet flavor that is similar to tarragon. Yarrow leaves can also be used as a natural insect repellent.

It is important to plant Yarrow in the right place, it can spread quickly via both rhizomes and self-seeding. Deadheading the spent flowers will extend the bloom season and can help limit self-seeding.

Chives Quick Facts

Yarrow Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.4 m (1.3 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Flavor: onion/garlic
Flowers: purple
Flowers: clusters of white flowers
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: none




Toxicity: toxic to dogs, cats, and horses
Other Names: schnittlauch
Other Names: common yarrow, devils nettle, milfoil, western yarrow, white yarrow