Achillea, Yarrow, Roadside Weed

  • Post published:07/22/2013
  • Post comments:5 Comments
Roadside yarrow

Achillea millefolium is a member of the compositae or daisylike family, but the tiny five rays give the appearance of a five petaled flower. The foliage is delicately ferny.

Roadside yarrow

While I may not have liked Queen Anne’s Lace as a child, I always liked yarrow. When I became a gardener I realized that there are many yarrows, that achillea comes in a whole palette of colors. I have grown Achillea ‘Cornonation Gold’ with its deep color and large flower heads, and Achillea “Moonshine” a much gentler shade.

A golden achillea

This golden achillea is not ‘Cornonation Gold’, but I like the dense color and the silvery foliage.

Achillea “Paprika” and “The Pearl”

I wanted “Paprika” for my garden after I saw it in by a friend’s doorway, but mine is not the brilliant orange-red shade I expected and desired. Maybe I’ll have to try again. There is never any question about Achillea “The Pearl’ a good spreader, easy to divide and give away to friends.

Deep pink Achillea

I can never resist deep pink flowers and this nameless Achillea fills the bill.

Achillea ‘Terra Cotta’

I like the shades of yellow/orange in Achillea ‘Terra Cotta’.  I know that I bought ‘Terra Cotta’ from Bluestone Perennials which has a good selection, but some have come from friends. All these hybrids of the roadside weed retain their hardiness and their tolerance of hot dry weather.

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. Pat I love all the many colors of my yarrow too. I have found that the colors seem to change and I wonder if they are cross breeding.

  2. Thank you for a great post. I’ve been thinking of adding yarrow to my flower beds and you’ve talked me into it! I don’t know why I haven’t put it in before now. It’s a wonderful native perennial.

  3. Cathy Thompson

    Lovely pictures – the yarrows seem good and heat-resistant as well. I wonder if nurserymen get them confused? I bought ‘Moonshine’ again recently and it seems a much harsher yellow than the plant I remember. I must try to plant ‘Terra Cotta’ in future.

  4. Pat

    Donna – I also wonder about the difference in soil affecting the color.
    Cynthia – Yarrow is a wonderful, carefree flower.
    Cathy – I think it is absolutely true that some plants come mis-labeled!

  5. Denise Hammond

    I too grow and love yarrow, but I had a gardener who thought it was tansy and was going to dig it out. Good thing I caught him before he got busy.

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