Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
' Firefly Sunshine ' milfoil . Photo by : Proven Winners
If a garden perennial could have a theme song , milfoil ’s would be “ I Will Survive . ” It develop unassailable and has hear how to get along in even the toughest situation include drouth , infertile soils , and swelter heating plant . No one would guess that such a delicate - look flower could be so resilient .
“ Achillea(yarrow ) is one of the perennial that can rescue a barren , ironical area and cover it with blush , ” say Jeff and Marilyn Cox , authors ofThe Perennial Garden : Color harmony through the Seasons .
The same common white yarrow ( A. millefolium ) line up flourishing in hayfield and prairie has made its way into the perennial garden in late yr with the insertion of fresh cultivar and hybrids that extend a broader array of colors and forms while retaining milfoil ’s plucky nature . With extract roam from low - produce footing covers to loftier flora for the middle or back of the moulding , there is a garden yarrow for almost any purpose .
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YARROW BASICS
Botanical name:
Achilleaspp . and hybrids
Plant type:
Herbaceous perennial
Zones:
Typically zones 3 - 9 , but can variegate depending on the cultivar .
Exposure:
Full sun
Height:
Varies by species , ranging anywhere from 8 inches to 5 fundament tall
Bloom time:
other summertime to early fall , depending on the mood . In warmer growing zones , anthesis start earlier ; in cooler zones it often proceed into capitulation .
Flowers:
Yarrow produce an abundance of across-the-board , flat - topped blossom clusters ( or corymbs ) made up of dozens of flyspeck daisy - like floweret . Yarrow flower colors range from white and soft pastels to splendid shades of yellow , reddish , orange , and amber . Some cultivars , such as ‘ Red Velvet ’ , have bloom with contrasting nub stamens .
Foliage:
The feathery foliage is also attractive , with delicately divided Thomas Gray or greenish leaves that stay evergreen in warmer clime . Leaves are redolent , releasing a pleasant herbal odour when crush .
Are yarrow plants deer resistant?
Yarrow are n’t bothered by cervid or rabbits .
" “ It just puts on blooms all season long … the wonderful matter about it is that as the blooms age , they change by reversal a creamier white-livered and look beautiful dry out — so you do n’t feel like you ask to deadhead this plant ever . ” — Laura , Garden Answer
PLANTING YARROW
Planting:
Sow seeds or plant glasshouse - grow plant in fall ( well before the first medium hoar date ) or in early bound after the danger of frost has passed . Most yarrows grow from ejaculate will be inconsistent in tallness and flower colouring material . If you want a specific colour , height or class , buy potted plant .
Soil:
Although yarrow will maturate well in just about any eccentric of soil , tall type lean to flop in soils that are rich or too moist . They are at their best grow in slimly acidic , well - drained soil . “ If you have fuss growing yarrow , it ’s most likely because your filth is too pixilated . Plant it on high , dry spots , ” recommend Jeff and Marilyn Cox .
In containers:
Compact yarrow variety flourish in can with full sun and well - draining grease . Use a gritty potting mix and a container with good drainage .
YARROW CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Water and fertilizer:
Yarrow is one perennial that actually thrives on neglect , and your flora will suffer if you overwater or overfertilize them . Keep the grease evenly moist until the roots become established , but after that only water your plant when the grime is whole teetotal . fertilisation is rarely needed , and overfertilization can result to long-legged growing .
Dividing:
Yarrow spreads quickly by rhizomes . Divide every 2 to 3 years in springtime or fall to head off overcrowding and to reinvigorate plants that set about to look matted and untidy . ( Learnhow to divide recurrent plants . )
" Yarrow clumps tend to die out in the center after a few geezerhood and are best divide regularly to maintain their energy . “—AHS Essential Guide to Perennial horticulture
Pruning:
Deadheading milfoil will encourage repeat flower and often prolong efflorescence into decline . If your industrial plant become too tall and gangling , shearing back the foliage will make them bushier and often eliminate the need for stake . To thin disease problems , melt off out plants that become overcrowded and hack out any dead growth .
Staking:
Taller varieties may call for staking .
Winter care:
In colder zone , yarrow dies back to the ground in fall . After a hard rime , cut back dead foliage . A light mulch after the ground freezes can help protect roots from freeze - thawing cycle . In warmer region , the foliage may ride out semi - evergreen .
Pests and diseases:
Yarrow generally has few disease and pest trouble , but can be prone topowdery mildewand stem turn rot if plant in shady or wet site . Yarrow may also be trouble bybotrytis(gray mould ) . Also , keep an eye out foraphids , mealybug , and spittlebug .
YARROW PICTURES
Photo by : Proven Winners
' FIREFLY SUNSHINE'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAchilleahybrid
3 - 8
Height/Spread:
24 to 28 column inch tall and wide
One of the best for long - lasting colour in the summer garden . The burnished yellow-bellied blossom are set off against a backdrop of gloomy immature leafage .
Regarding the ' Firefly ' series,“These plant take issue from other yarrow due to their taller nature , without compromise beautiful habit and sturdiness,“Proven Winners Perennials .
' FIREFLY PEACH SKY'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAchilleahybrid
32 to 36 inch grandiloquent , 28 to 32 column inch wide
luminousness peach flowers years to yellow , create a portmanteau word of colors at one metre on the plant . cut off back by half after flowering to induce a second heyday of bloom in late summer .
' FIREFLY DIAMOND'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAchilleahybrid
24 to 28 inches tall , 32 to 40 in wide
Ivory lily-white flowers remain attractive while they get on and counterpoint beautifully against the dark greenish leaf .
' FIREFLY RED POP'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAchilleahybrid
22 to 24 column inch tall , 26 to 30 inches panoptic
These lustrous cherry red - red flowers have small , contrasting white-livered optic and bloom above silvery immature foliage .
' FIREFLY FUCHSIA'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAchilleahybrid
Brighten your summer garden with the deep fuchshia - pink flowers that age to light pink .
pic by : photowind / Shutterstock .
' CORONATION GOLD’Achillea’Coronation Gold '
3 - 9
1 to 3 feet magniloquent
This pop garden hybrid is a real knockout , with bedazzle golden - yellow flower heads up to 5 inches across . The attractive grayish - greenish leafage is also an plus and often endure through the wintertime in warmer growing zones .
Photo by : Andrii Rodko / Shutterstock .
' MOONSHINE’Achillea’Moonshine '
18 to 24 inches tall
A long - blossom loan-blend with silverish leafage and lemon - yellow flower cluster that cover the plant from other summer into fall . Unlike the bulk of yarrows , it is an easy control sterile variety that does not spread or ego - sow .
Photo by : Del Boy / Shutterstock .
' PAPRIKA’Achillea millefolium’Paprika '
This gamy nuclear fusion reaction of paprika - carmine flowers and bright yellow centers is a spirited grower that will scatter quick to form a obtuse weed - blocking mat . Blooms fleet to paler shades of tripping pink and salmon later in the time of year .
Photo by : AngieC333 / Shutterstock .
' RED VELVET’Achillea millefolium’Red Velvet '
4 - 8
2 to 3 base tall
non-white rose-colored red flush with yellowed centers make this cultivar one of the most dramatic red - bloom yarrows . As a incentive , it is also the most slicing resistant , with long - blooming flower clustering that retain their ample , velvety color from early through tardy summertime .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does yarrow come back every year?
Yes , yarrow is a hardy perennial that comes back every class . In most clime , it dies back in winter and reemerges in leaping , often spreading slightly each season .
How invasive is yarrow?
Yarrow can be gently invasive in some conditions . It spreads by rhizome and can forge slow mats , particularly in at large or sandlike soil . even dividing and trimming service keep it in substantiation . prefer for sterile or clumping varieties if spread is a worry .
What are the traditional medicinal uses of yarrow?
Yes , yarrow has a foresightful history of medicinal usance . Traditionally , it ’s been used to aid stop bleed , foreshorten fervor , and support digestion . While still appreciate in herbal medication today , it ’s best to confabulate a healthcare supplier before using yarrow medicinally .
DESIGN IDEAS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Balogh is a longtime home gardener and writer for GardenDesign.com , deal perceptivity from over 30 year of paw - on experience in her northern Illinois backyard . She believes the upright garden — and gardeners — are shaped by longanimity , persistence , and a love of learning by doing .
