The Achilleas, descendants of the weed yarrow, which transforms empty lots and roadsides into bright wildflower patches, are as easy to grow as their more common cousins. They thrive in any ordinary soil in full sun or part shade.
Like their poor relatives, they are extremely hardy. In addition to their virtues in the garden, the flowers can be dried for winter bouquets. Some have silvery foliage, and others are elegantly lacy.
The nicest thing about these perennials is that they begin to bloom in spring and, with a minimum of care (mostly the picking off of spent flower heads), they will continue to bloom until frost. So hot, dry weather doesn’t faze them.
Best-Known Achilleas Varieties
`Golden Plate,’ developed in recent years, is perhaps the best-known variety, but others, `Tagetes, “Snowball, “Pearl, “Emerald Isle,’ and eupatorium filipendulina, each have the merit of their own and corresponding value to the gardener.
Golden Plate
`Golden Plate’ grows 3’ to 4’ feet tall, about 2’ feet in diameter, and produces, as its name indicates, large flat golden flower clusters as much as eight inches across.
It can be used alone to create a mass of bright, rich color, as a background for smaller plants, or as a particularly effective accent for large evergreens.
‘Coronation Gold’ is a newer variety of the same type.
Tagetes
‘Tagetes’, another yellow, is somewhat paler and smaller, both in size (18” to 24” inches high) and blossom, while eupatorium filipendulina is taller, usually reaching a height of 5’ feet.
Its flowers are a clean, clear yellow, not as large as those of ‘Golden Plate.’
Snowball
‘Snowball’ (ptarmica), a neat, bushy plant, 18” to 24” inches tall, produces clusters of double, white, mum-like flowers, as does ‘Pearl,’ from which it was developed. (‘Snowball’ blooms fuller, with more perfect flowers.)
They keep well cut and are a pretty contrast to other colors in a bouquet or in the garden.
Emerald Isle
`Emerald Isle’ (millefolium) is not grown primarily for its flowers, although it does produce white blossoms on long stems during the summer.
The real beauty of this member of the achillea family is found in its lush coloring and fern-like foliage, which stays green late in the fall, even into winter.
The rounded plants, which grow 12” to 15” inches tall, are uniform in size and of good conformation.
Because they take well to trimming, they can be used as a low symmetrical border along walks or in formal planting. They are ideal as a background for small, bright flowers.
Variety Of Achilleas Seeds
Seeds for better varieties are not readily available, but many nurseries supply achilleas in plant form. Once a few plants become established, they multiply freely and should be divided about every 3 years.
A few flowers may be allowed to go to seed if a large number of plants is desired. Seeds germinate quickly in a sunny, well-drained location, or fiats. If started early in spring, they should bloom the first year.
Place in permanent locations 8” to 10” inches apart in spring or early fall, avoiding too-rich soil.
Cut shoots back immediately after flowering if plants begin to get scraggly. Winter covering is unnecessary.
A few achilleas in your garden are most rewarding for all-season bloom and lovely greenery for maximum value in return for minimum effort.
44659 by Jean S. Sherwood