Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) A. ageratifolia
- 2) A. filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’
- 3) A. ‘Coronation Gold’
- 4) A. × lewisii ‘King Edward’
- 5) A. millefolium
- 6) A. ‘Credo’
- 7) A. ‘Heidi’
- 8) A. ‘Lachsschönheit’
- 9) A. ‘Moonshine’
- 10) A. ‘Paprika’
- 11) A. ‘Petra’
- 12) A. ‘Summerwine’
- 13) A. ‘Terracotta’
- 14) A. ‘The Beacon’
- 15) A. ptarmica ‘The Pearl’
Also known as yarrows, Achilleas are commonly included in any eco-friendly, wildlife-friendly planting schemes.
Yarrow is wonderful for organic gardeners, prized for its ability to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to aid in pest control, and for its ability to dynamically accumulate nutrients from the soil.
What’s more, it looks great too!
There are a number of named cultivars of yarrow commonly grown in perennial beds and borders as an ornamental addition.
Many of the varieties are cultivars of Achillea millefolium, common yarrow, though as you will discover below, there are a few other key species to consider.
“Achillea is a very versatile genus of garden plants offering something for most styles and sizes of garden,” says Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“Cultivars of Achillea millefolium and Achillea filipendulina can be used in a traditional herbaceous border, in a cottage garden or naturalised with grasses in a prairie style.
“The smaller species can be grown in rockeries, gravel gardens, pots or the front of a border.”
So let’s take a look at some fantastic yarrow varieties that you could grow – all of which should be grown in full sun.
1) A. ageratifolia
- COMMON NAME(S): balkan yarrow
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- FLOWERS: White
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
This Achillea, also known as Balkan yarrow or Greek yarrow, is a smaller alpine-type perennial which makes small mounded clumps around 20cm high.
The small solitary flowering heads are around 2.5cm wide, with soft yellow centres and white petals.
H5 hardy, these can be a great choice for rock or gravel gardens or coastal locations.
This is an RHS Award of Garden Merit plant.
2) A. filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘cloth of gold’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Yellow
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / autumn
A. filipendulina is an Asian species of yarrow.
‘Cloth of Gold’ is one of the cultivars of this species which has been awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
This cultivar grows to around 1-1.5m in height with a spread of 45cm and has vibrant yellow flowers.
It can work very well in the middle or towards the back of a border.
3) A. ‘Coronation Gold’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘coronation gold’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Yellow
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / autumn
Growing to around 1m in height, this is another cultivar with an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
It also has stunning bright yellow flowers.
For this variety and other taller types, staking can be beneficial before flowering, though it is not usually essential.
Like the above, it can work well towards the middle or back of an informal, wildlife-friendly border.
4) A. × lewisii ‘King Edward’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘King Edward’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- FLOWERS: Yellow and cream
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
This small hybrid type is a small and compact plant, which grows only to around 10cm in height.
It bears clumps of yellow flowers, which fade to creamy hues as the season progresses.
This plant also has an Award of Garden Merit and is great for a rock or gravel garden, a coastal location, or for use as a container plant.
5) A. millefolium
- COMMON NAME(S): common yarrow
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Cream and pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
Common yarrow, the species type, is native to the UK.
It has small flowers in creamy whites or pale pink, born from June to August, and works very well in a wildlife-friendly and informal planting scheme.
It is H7 hardy so will overwinter throughout the UK, even with the harshest of winters.
It can self-seed readily.
6) A. ‘Credo’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘credo’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Cream and yellow
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
Though sometimes short-lived, this yarrow is another option to bring vibrant yellow hues to your garden.
Another AGM plant, ‘Credo’ has all the benefits of the above, but offers a different colour of flowers from the species type.
7) A. ‘Heidi’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘Heidi’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / autumn
If you love bright pink, then this could be a good yarrow to consider.
‘Heidi’ grows around 60cm tall, and its flowers are a purple-pink hue, which gradually fades to lighter pink as the season continues.
Flowers are born all summer and often well into the autumn too.
8) A. ‘Lachsschönheit’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘Lachsschönheit’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Cream, orange and pink
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
‘Lachsschönheit’ or ‘Salmon Beauty’ is a yarrow in the Galaxy series.
As the name suggests, the flowers of this option are charming salmon pink, and gradually fade to a more creamish pink hue.
They are born over the summer months.
9) A. ‘Moonshine’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘moonshine’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Yellow
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / autumn
‘Moonshine’ is another cheery yarrow to consider, with bright yellow flowers.
It grows to around 60cm in height and works well, like other cultivars of this species, in a wide range of settings where there is full sun and moist yet free-draining soil.
10) A. ‘Paprika’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘paprika’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Red
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
Another colourful cultivar to consider is ‘Paprika’ with its pinkish-red flowers and bright yellow centres.
Around 60-80cm in height, this is a great option for the middle of a border, where it will flower throughout the summer months.
11) A. ‘Petra’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘Petra’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: White and red
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / autumn
Another colourful variant is ‘Petra’, which has deeper red flowers, each one with a creamy white centre.
Starting out as a rich-ruby hue, the colours do not tend to fade as significantly over the course of the season as other vibrant cultivars.
12) A. ‘Summerwine’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘summerwine’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- FLOWERS: White and red
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
‘Summerwine’ is another AGM-awarded cultivar which has vibrant flowers.
In this case, the flowers are a deep, velvety red wine hue.
Like the others on this list, the colours gradually fade over the season, bringing more variation and interest to your planting scheme.
13) A. ‘Terracotta’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘terracotta’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Cream and yellow
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / autumn
Truly stunning and unusual, ‘Terracotta’ is a cultivar with stunning deep orange blooms.
The burnished orange flowers fade to a somewhat more mellow orange hue as the season continues.
The striking shades work very well with deep purple flowers, like salvias or nepetas.
14) A. ‘The Beacon’
- COMMON NAME(S): yarrow ‘Fanal’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: Red
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
‘The Beacon’ is another vibrant Achillea cultivar with deep post-box red flowers and small yellow centres.
This is also a great choice for mixed perennial borders which work well for wildlife and offers plenty of ornamental appeal.
15) A. ptarmica ‘The Pearl’
- COMMON NAME(S): sneezewort ‘the pearl’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- FLOWERS: White
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
Last but not least, you could also consider this cultivar of A. ptarmica (the wild tansy), which has pretty white flowers with a double form.
The white blooms look great when planted in generous drifts, and also make great cut flowers.
The yarrows on this list are just some of the many enticing options to consider, but the options listed could be a great place to begin when trying to find the perfect yarrows for your garden.
