Achillea (native species & cutlivars)
Native species
Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow): Our native yarrow, found on South Salish prairies, shorelines, and other spots in full sun with fast-draining soils.
Blooms mid-summer with clusters of white to light pink flowers with a scent reminiscent of chrysanthemums, making it unattractive to deer and bunnies, but the flowers are a delight for pollinators and natural-pest enemies (beneficial insects).
Yarrow offers many medicinal properties, as well.
Plant in full sun, with adequately draining soil, and don’t over water during establishment.
Cultivars
Achillea x kellereri (Keller's yarrow): This unusual yarrow hybrid features fine, feathery silvery-gray leaves that have strong staying power, even in the dormant season. But the standout attraction is its unique flower clusters, with each individual bloom bigger like a miniature white daisy - far more broadly opened than is typical for yarrows. With crisp-white petals and a creamy pale-yellow center, each large flower cluster is borne on sturdy, upright stalks that attract pollinators (especially butterflies!) and beneficial insects to your landscape all season long. Flower stalks then persist over winter, supporting native insects and birds.
Achillea millefolium 'Fireland': Great perennial border plant that grows to 18-30" and requires full sun. It has silver-grey foliage with red-orange flower clusters that cover the plant all spring, through summer, then age into salmon and gold tones. A water-wise, deer-resistant plant that flourishes in poor soil and drought once established. Seed heads and some foliage persist through winter, providing wildlife forage.
Achillea ‘Moonshine’ (Yellow Moonshine Yarrow): One of our favorite yarrow cultivars for sunny sites! Yellow 'Moonshine' Yarrow is a great perennial border plant that grows to 16-24 in. and has silver-grey foliage with lemon-yellow flower clusters that cover the plant all summer long, providing great habitat for butterflies and other beneficial insects. Seedheads and some foliage persist through winter, providing wildlife forage.
Achillea ‘Summerwine’ (Summerwine Yarrow): This cultivar adds a burst of long-blooming deep-red flowers atop semi-evergreen, vigorous grey-green fernlike foliage. The tiny flowers form in large flat-topped clusters of wine-red flowers with white “eyes,” providing great habitat for beneficial insects to keep garden pests at bay, as well as attracting many types of pollinators. This cultivar is a bit taller than some yarrows, growing about 2-3 ft. high and about 18-24 in. wide. This cultivar begins blooming in spring and can keep going to fall with a bit of deadheading. Or, leave the flowertops to provide sturdy structure for winter interest and habitat.
Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction' (Strawberry Seduction Yarrow): This cultivar adds a burst of long-blooming deep-red flowers with golden centers that rise above vigorous fernlike foliage. This selection grows about 1-2 ft. high and wide, with robust growth that retains an upright form no matter the weather.
Achillea ‘Walther Funcke’ (Walther Funcke Yarow): This drought-tolerant perennial features tough, vigorous, grey-green fernlike foliage is sturdy and will not flop like taller Yarrows. It blooms from spring to fall with flowers that start as brick-red then fade to terracotta, and finally to yellow, producing a beautiful, simultaneous, multi-colored effect. The long bloom time invites many beneficial insects, including butterflies, to linger in your landscape.
Native species
Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow): Our native yarrow, found on South Salish prairies, shorelines, and other spots in full sun with fast-draining soils.
Blooms mid-summer with clusters of white to light pink flowers with a scent reminiscent of chrysanthemums, making it unattractive to deer and bunnies, but the flowers are a delight for pollinators and natural-pest enemies (beneficial insects).
Yarrow offers many medicinal properties, as well.
Plant in full sun, with adequately draining soil, and don’t over water during establishment.
Cultivars
Achillea x kellereri (Keller's yarrow): This unusual yarrow hybrid features fine, feathery silvery-gray leaves that have strong staying power, even in the dormant season. But the standout attraction is its unique flower clusters, with each individual bloom bigger like a miniature white daisy - far more broadly opened than is typical for yarrows. With crisp-white petals and a creamy pale-yellow center, each large flower cluster is borne on sturdy, upright stalks that attract pollinators (especially butterflies!) and beneficial insects to your landscape all season long. Flower stalks then persist over winter, supporting native insects and birds.
Achillea millefolium 'Fireland': Great perennial border plant that grows to 18-30" and requires full sun. It has silver-grey foliage with red-orange flower clusters that cover the plant all spring, through summer, then age into salmon and gold tones. A water-wise, deer-resistant plant that flourishes in poor soil and drought once established. Seed heads and some foliage persist through winter, providing wildlife forage.
Achillea ‘Moonshine’ (Yellow Moonshine Yarrow): One of our favorite yarrow cultivars for sunny sites! Yellow 'Moonshine' Yarrow is a great perennial border plant that grows to 16-24 in. and has silver-grey foliage with lemon-yellow flower clusters that cover the plant all summer long, providing great habitat for butterflies and other beneficial insects. Seedheads and some foliage persist through winter, providing wildlife forage.
Achillea ‘Summerwine’ (Summerwine Yarrow): This cultivar adds a burst of long-blooming deep-red flowers atop semi-evergreen, vigorous grey-green fernlike foliage. The tiny flowers form in large flat-topped clusters of wine-red flowers with white “eyes,” providing great habitat for beneficial insects to keep garden pests at bay, as well as attracting many types of pollinators. This cultivar is a bit taller than some yarrows, growing about 2-3 ft. high and about 18-24 in. wide. This cultivar begins blooming in spring and can keep going to fall with a bit of deadheading. Or, leave the flowertops to provide sturdy structure for winter interest and habitat.
Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction' (Strawberry Seduction Yarrow): This cultivar adds a burst of long-blooming deep-red flowers with golden centers that rise above vigorous fernlike foliage. This selection grows about 1-2 ft. high and wide, with robust growth that retains an upright form no matter the weather.
Achillea ‘Walther Funcke’ (Walther Funcke Yarow): This drought-tolerant perennial features tough, vigorous, grey-green fernlike foliage is sturdy and will not flop like taller Yarrows. It blooms from spring to fall with flowers that start as brick-red then fade to terracotta, and finally to yellow, producing a beautiful, simultaneous, multi-colored effect. The long bloom time invites many beneficial insects, including butterflies, to linger in your landscape.