Common yarrow vs Lesser calamint

Common yarrow and Lesser calamint are often considered for the same spot in the garden (flowers, pollinator friendly, ground cover). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium 80 cm × 80 cm after 10 years

A tough native perennial with finely cut, aromatic foliage and flat flower heads that bees and butterflies visit all summer; garden cultivars also…

Perennial

Full sun

from about CZK 76

Lesser calamint

Calamintha nepeta 45 cm × 50 cm after 10 years

A low, bushy perennial that wraps itself in a cloud of tiny white or pale lilac flowers from midsummer until frost and is then one of the busiest…

Perennial

Full sun

from about CZK 79

Key differences

Common yarrow grows larger: 80 cm × 80 cm after ten years, against 45 cm × 50 cm for Lesser calamint (an estimate: sources differ).
Common yarrow grows faster than Lesser calamint.

Which one to choose?

Common yarrow is the better choice if you want quick results.

Lesser calamint is the better choice if space is tight.

Watch out for

Common yarrow

In rich or moist soil the stems stretch and flop after rain and wind. It spreads strongly by runners and seed and can move from the border into the lawn. Root rot occurs in waterlogged soil, and powdery mildew and rust in crowded clumps.

Lesser calamint

It can be short-lived: after a few years the clump goes bare in the middle and is best renewed by division or from seedlings. In a spot it likes it self-seeds; the seedlings are easy to pull. Powdery mildew can attack it, mainly in dense, airless plantings, and the foliage may decline in hot, humid weather. It comes up late in spring, so do not hoe over its place, and it does not tolerate heavy soil that is wet in winter.

The data side by side

Feature	Common yarrow	Lesser calamint
Group	Perennial	Perennial
Size after 10 years	80 cm × 80 cm	45 cm × 50 cm (uncertain)
Ultimate size	0.5–1 m × 60–90 cm	30–50 cm × 30–60 cm
Growth rate	Fast	Medium
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Clay	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Clay
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	High (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, white, pink, red, yellow	June–October, white, purple, pink
Water need	Low	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	40 cm	40 cm
For dogs	Toxic	no data
For cats	Toxic	no data
For children	Mildly toxic	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. CZK 76	approx. CZK 84

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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