Achillea Profiled

Busy gardeners are always on the lookout for plants that can outcompete weeds. Yarrow (Achillea) is one of the best of them.

Yarrow is a vigorous perennial that grows between twelve and thirty-six inches tall, and has ferny or feathery foliage that is grayish-green and aromatic. The most popular species feature flattened flowerheads or corymbs, which are composed of scores of individual daisy-like flowers. The color range is wide, including shades of white, yellow, gold, orange, red and lavender--nearly every color except blue.

Like many plant genera, Achillea was christened by Linnaeus, the eighteenth century naturalist, who named it after Achilles, the great warrior of Homer’s Iliad. According to legend, Achilles’ troops carried achillea with them into battle, because the foliage, when packed into a wound, can stanch bleeding.

Achillea species and selections have been bred, crossed and backcrossed in the search for outstanding garden plants. Hybrids and cultivars of Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Achillea filipendulina, Achillea sibirica and Achillea taygetea are widely available. Achillea millefolium means, literally, “thousand-flowered achillea”. Many of the best Achillea millefolium hybrids have come from Germany, including the copper, red and yellow ‘Walter Funke’, soft yellow ‘Jungfrau’ and ‘Terra Cotta’, with orange-red flowerheads. The “ptarmica” in Achillea ptarmica’s species name refers to the plant’s alleged ability to induce sneezing, which also accounts for its common name, “sneezeweed”.

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The most popular cultivar of Achillea ptarmica is ‘The Pearl’, which has looser sprays of white, double or semi-double daisy-like flowers. Achillea filipendulina is also known as “golden yarrow”. Probably the most widely known cultivar is ‘Cloth of Gold’, which has the tightly packed flowerheads characteristic of Achillea millefolium, but with a slightly more rounded shape. Achillea taygetea hybrids include the soft yellow ‘Anthea’ and ‘Moonshine’, both bred in England by plantsman Allan Bloom. The Achillea sibirica hybrid mix ‘Summer Pastels’ also features tightly packed flowerheads in a mix of soft colors.

Achillea has become very popular over the last ten to fifteen years at least partly because it is highly drought, deer and rodent resistant. Once established in a sunny spot, it rarely needs supplemental watering. Many of the species and hybrids also make good cut flowers and excellent, long-lasting dried flowers.

Yarrow usually blooms in very late spring or early summer. If you deadhead the plants or pick the flowers, it will often rebloom again in the fall. If money is tight, start your yarrow collection with only one or two plants. By the end of the second year, they will have reproduced by underground rhizomes, and you will be able to spread them around the garden. After another year you will probably be ready to give them to the neighbors. If you want only a limited number of achillea, be vigilant and pull out any unwanted offspring.

Yarrow has gotten so popular because it is undemanding and versatile. You can use the brighter-colored hybrids in fashionable hot-colored planting schemes, or blend the pastel-flowered yarrows among more subtle-hued blooms. No matter what the setting, these mid-border plants look wonderful in groupings of three, five or seven.

Achillea, like its legendary namesake, is heroic in battle—the ongoing battle against garden weeds. Plant it in masses, and it will prevent chickweed, crabgrass and other enemies of civilized horticulture from gaining a foothold.