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.
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.
This golden achillea is not ‘Cornonation Gold’, but I like the dense color and the silvery foliage.
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.
I can never resist deep pink flowers and this nameless Achillea fills the bill.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.