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: ✔ Propagation Allowed

See our complete Achillea Growth & Care Guide for more in depth care details.

More About Achillea ‘Moonshine’

Over the years, I’ve noticed that ‘Moonshine’ has become the Yarrow that people compare other yellow Yarrows to—and for good reason. It holds its shape, doesn’t flop, and never feels messy. The color alone sets it apart—a soft, clear yellow that feels bright without ever being loud. I’ve grown plenty of older yellow Yarrows over the years, and many of them lean too mustardy or heavy for my taste, but ‘Moonshine’ always feels lighter and cleaner in the garden. When the sun hits those blooms, they really do glow, especially against blues, purples, and silvery foliage.

What keeps me coming back to ‘Moonshine’, though, is the foliage. The finely cut, silver-gray leaves look good from early spring straight through fall, even before the flowers show up and long after they’ve faded. I’ve had stretches where it wasn’t in bloom at all, and I still appreciated what it was doing in the border—adding texture, structure, and a cool-toned contrast that plays well with almost everything around it. That kind of reliability matters when you’re planting for the long haul.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our garden here in the SC Upstate, Achillea ‘Moonshine’ has earned its keep season after season. It handles heat, humidity, and dry spells without complaint, and we rarely have to fuss with it beyond basic cleanup. Even in Summers when other plants start to sulk, ‘Moonshine’ keeps its stems upright and its foliage clean—no collapsing, no mildew issues, even in richer soils. I also love how versatile it is. I’ve used it in mixed borders, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens, and it always feels at home. The blooms hold up beautifully for cutting and dry just as well, which is something I appreciate when I want a little bit of the garden indoors. 

Bees and butterflies are all over it, while deer consistently leave it alone—a combination that’s hard to beat. One thing customers mention again and again is how the color feels “bright but easy on the eyes,” especially when it’s planted near lavender, salvia, ornamental grasses, echinacea, or blue nepeta. That’s exactly how I see it too. ‘Moonshine’ doesn’t demand attention—it earns it, quietly and reliably, year after year.

Moonshine vs. Other Yarrows

While many yellow yarrows offer strong color, few match the balance and refinement of ‘Moonshine’. Some newer cultivars — particularly within the New Vintage™ Series — were bred for compact size and improved garden control, but often lean toward deeper gold or chartreuse tones that can feel overpowering in larger plantings. Likewise, refined white selections like Peter Cottontail excel in softness and restraint, though they bring a very different color presence to the garden.

Moonshine strikes a rare middle ground, delivering a soft, luminous yellow that reads clean and elegant from a distance without overwhelming surrounding plants. 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.