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Botanical Name: Achillea × hybrida ‘Moonshine’ 

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 3–9) 

Size: 18–24" Tall × 18–24" Spread 

Growth Habit: Upright, Clumping Habit 

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun 

Soil: Prefers Well Drained Soil; Tolerates Poor or Rocky Soils 

Water Needs: Low Water Needs Once Established; Drought Tolerant 

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Summer 

Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess 

Features: Silvery Gray Foliage, Bright Yellow Blooms, Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly 

Uses: Ideal for Borders, Perennial Beds, Pollinator Gardens, and Cut or Dried Flowers

Patent: Not Patented

Propagation: Allowed

More About Achillea ‘Moonshine’ (Yarrow)

Achillea ‘Moonshine’ is one of the most iconic and enduring yarrow selections ever introduced, prized for its luminous sulfur-yellow flower clusters and finely textured, silvery-gray foliage. Unlike older golden or mustard-toned yarrows that can feel heavy in the landscape, ‘Moonshine’ offers a softer, cleaner yellow that glows in sunlight and pairs effortlessly with both cool and warm color palettes. The contrast between its airy blooms and fern-like foliage gives the plant a light, refined presence that works just as well in modern gardens as it does in traditional perennial borders.

What truly sets ‘Moonshine’ apart is its exceptional foliage quality. The silver-gray leaves remain attractive from spring through fall, even when the plant is not in bloom, adding structure and texture long after flowering peaks. This combination of lasting foliage interest and bright, long-lasting blooms has made ‘Moonshine’ a benchmark variety against which newer yellow yarrows are often compared.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

At Garden Delivery, Achillea ‘Moonshine’ has proven itself year after year as one of the most reliable perennials in our trial gardens. In our Upstate South Carolina conditions, it thrives through heat, humidity, and dry spells with minimal care, maintaining strong stems and consistent flowering without flopping. Where some yarrow varieties struggle with mildew or collapse in rich soils, ‘Moonshine’ remains upright, clean, and remarkably resilient.

We also value its versatility. It performs beautifully in mixed perennial borders, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens, and it’s equally effective as a cut or dried flower. Bees and butterflies flock to the blooms, while deer reliably pass it by—an ideal combination for low-maintenance landscapes. Customers often comment on how “bright but not harsh” the color feels, especially when planted alongside lavender, salvia, ornamental grasses, echinacea, or blue nepeta.

Achillea ‘Moonshine’ vs. Other Yarrows

While many yellow yarrows offer strong color, few match the balance and refinement of ‘Moonshine’. Some newer cultivars lean toward deeper golds or chartreuse tones, which can feel overpowering in large plantings. ‘Moonshine’, by contrast, delivers a softer yellow that reads clean and elegant from a distance without overwhelming surrounding plants.

Compared to taller or more aggressive spreading yarrows, ‘Moonshine’ maintains a well-behaved, clumping habit that’s easy to manage in both residential and commercial landscapes. Its ability to combine drought tolerance, pollinator value, long bloom time, and refined aesthetics is what keeps it firmly in the “must-grow” category—decades after its introduction.