Plant of the month - Achillea

Achilleas may not usually be considered showstoppers but these perennials are real team players in a mixed border: pretty, resilient, long lasting and fantastic for pollinators.

Also known as yarrows, achilleas are related to those wildflowers which pop up in meadows, hedgerows and fields across Britain.  Meanwhile their cultivated cousins come in a wide range of colours, and have similar characteristics: feathery foliage and flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers which are the perfect landing pad for insects, including hoverflies, bees, butterflies and moths.

Their flowers are held high on tall stems and make great companions for ornamental grasses.  They enjoy a sunny spot and are usually drought tolerant once they’re established.

Deadheading achilleas encourages them to keep blooming, and you can use them as cut flowers too.  Towards the end of the season leave a few to form seedheads, which can be left standing for winter structure, or you can collect the seed to grow more plants.  Plants grown from collected seed may not come true to type, however, so the best way to propagate achilleas is to divide them in spring, which can revitalise more mature plants.

There are lots of great varieties of achillea to grow, to suit all colour palettes.  One of the best-known is ‘Moonshine’ which has grey-green foliage and light yellow flowers; or ‘Cloth of Gold’ which is a much brighter, golden yellow.  The flowers of Achillea ‘Terracotta’ open orange and then fade to yellow with age – or you could try ‘Paprika’ in a spicy red which fades to shades of pink.