Saturday, June 4, 2011

Yearning For Yarrows

Achillea filipendulina 'Coronation Gold'
Achillea  is a fine herbaceous perennial for multiple uses. This genus is tolerant of multiple soil types and most species are drought tolerant. It prefers full sun but I have found if you plant a rambunctious variety, you can plant it in partial sun which will slow down its rangy growth. However you will have less flowering. 
Yarrow (common name) is often thought as an old fashioned plant. And it is an old standby. However newer varieties with differing ranges of colors, form, and texture have inspired new looks by modern gardeners. In my garden it is a stalwart in early summer, when salvia and springs bulbs have faded. It blends with the newly flowering Mealy Blue Sage, Red Rocks Penstemon, ornamental grasses, and just starting to bloom Rudebeckias and Perovskia.

Coronation Gold and Mealy Blue Sage
Coronation Gold and Red Rocks Penstemon
Early Coronation Gold Flower Head with Mealy Blue Sage
Early Growth
Achillea millefolium 'Summer Pastels' is pictured above. It is my least favorite yarrow as it takes the most energy to keep it in its place. The photo gives it more justice than it deserves. This variety was started from seed a few years ago. It has been moved three times, ending up in the corner hellstrip which receives less nutrition. It was also divided and planted in 60% shade to hold it in place. This variety can be very aggressive if not root pruned often. A week ago this plant became leggy and fell over other neighboring perennials after a hard rain. The shovel came out and 50% of it was removed. A passerby motorists asked me if she could have it. I put it in her trunk along with other pass a long plants, salvia,(two varieties) and echinacae.
 These were the plants which were shovel pruned.
Not too pretty after pruning. This variety has a tendency to lay down.
Achillea 'Saucey Seduction' is probably my favorite yarrow right now. It stays in bounds, 12" in height and 18" in width. Nice fern like foliage and almost maintenance free. I'm not a big hot pink fan but this is a great choice.
Achillea millefolium 'Terra Cotta' is a newcomer to me. Planted it last year in two areas.Since its a millefolium I am concerned it may be invasive. Will see. As with all the yarrows I like the fern like foliage. It blends nicely with other grey leafed plants also. Once established it is drought tolerant. I like the terra cotta color, soft pastels. 18-24"

 Achillea serbica (Servian Yarrow) is a diminutive gray tight leafed ground cover variety known for its drought and heat tolerance. Very tight in its leaf structure, it does well in hot full sun and doesn't even blink (if it could). It doesn't even resemble a normal yarrow.

Yarrows are trouble free, drought resistant, have a fine texture, make great dried arrangements, have variable colors, and are pest free. Hard do beat in a hot and dry Kansas corner lot surrounded by asphalt on two sides!

 Yearn no more..






27 comments:

  1. Darn it Greggo, now I'm going to have to get more yarrows. Nice post. I like the yellow!

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  2. The yellow is my favorite. Saw some at a local garden shop and did not buy.... Now I will have to go back and get some.... Thanks !

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  3. I've moved my "summer pastels" yarrow multiple times, too. It will reseed itself in cracks in the sidewalk.

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  4. Yours looks lovely. No wonder the passing motorist wanted some. Nice that you gave her other plants, too. I like the pink yarrow. I have the yellow, but wish it was pink!

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  5. PR and RR-yellow gives you more bang for the buck.
    Sprout-I'm wondering where are the other colors are that show on the seed packet of summer pastels.
    HolleyG-do a drive bye and I'll give you some pink.

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  6. I have Coronation Gold too, but it is my only yarrow at 664. I do use yarrow a lot for clients in butterfly and wild gardens though. And, if I show my architectural models sometime, I use the dried yarrow for miniature trees in the model. That is why I have one plant only, just to make fake trees. No, not really, the butterflies seem to like it too!

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  7. Yarrow umbels make perfect butterfly landing pads in addition to being a beautiful form. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  8. Hello to KS from Houston, TX.
    This is my first time visit here on your blog Gregory and I love what I see.
    I just love your header image and the awesome pictures you have posted!
    In your profile you are saying you have mucked through the clay in TX and KS. How small this world is! I am living in TX and I'm originally from Hutchinson, KS and I got my passion for gardening from my Dad. :)
    I don't find the time to write an own blog but I love visiting garden blogs from across the US and to see all the different plants and garden designs. well Gregory, you just gained a new follower. ;)
    Best Regards
    Paula Jo

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  9. My "summer pastels" changes color during the bloom cycle. Pale pink to fuchsia and some peach mixed in.

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  10. I think yarrow is beautiful but it doesn't seem to return for more than a year here. I have tried it in all my sunniest spots. Your photos are beautiful especially the last one.

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  11. I am so excited to see my yarrow starting to flower...My new fav is Terra Cotta...it is just blooming...I love the way you capture the yarrow...lovely

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  12. I have a beautiful tall, pink yarrow that is NOT drought resistant!! I had to move it to a much moister spot after it nearly died in dry soil/full sun. I put grow-through grids over them in the fall to keep them upright. The next time I have an empty spot in one of my hot, dry beds I might put in some 'Coronation Gold'. I like it's reputation as a tought plant. You're garden looks great!! :o)

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  13. Your perennial combinations are really beautiful. The first picture is wonderful!

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  14. Nice profile of your selection of Achillea! I have several in my garden including Terracotta and Sunny Seduction. I don't mind if they spread as I have the space and they are always good pass along plants.

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  15. I got some of the yellow yarrow from high country gardens a few years ago. .and I LOVE it!! Withstands the high wind and heat here. .and the color is so rich. I also like the way it doesn't flop to the ground. Now, I have NEVER seen orange yarrow and I loved your picture. .I will have to look into that! Your gardens are just gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing them.

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  16. Beautiful - I only have one variety - a red one that I don't even know the name of, but I love it. Going to have to get a few more now!

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  17. I've always loved Achillea, my faves are 'Moonshine" and the strange red/pink/white hybrid my grandmother gave me years ago...that was one vigorous plant!

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  18. I just have the white. I really need to add a couple other colors in here since I love how it thrives and looks too.
    Cher

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  19. "Mealy" blue sage? But it is so pretty!
    Who names these plants??

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  20. I have some wild yarrow and I never know whether to yank it out or keep it. It seems to take over. Advice?

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  21. Stunning photos. I go back and forth w/yarrow. Some days I like it, others I'm not sure. Your first image has me falling in love with it again. I may need to get some...it grows wild here in the N East too.

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  22. I enjoyed reading your post and seeing your lovely photos! I should divide some of my yarrow and put some in the new planting area in the front yard. I have some of that sage, too, I think. I got it by collecting some seed heads of the ones at church. I am taking care of that bed, now, and had to thin out some of the many many that had come up. I still just had one come up from last year's plant in my own yard.

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  23. What a great meadow planting you have. It's a rainy, grey day here, and now I'm thinking "If I only had some yarrow in my garden, to add a little sunshine. . ." You captured the color and the character of this plant well in your photos.

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  24. I'm a yarrow fan. Love the combination with the grass...I'm gonna have to add one next to my Mexican feather grass. The grass got caught in my husband's weed eater so will be getting a haircut this week. Not looking so good!

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  25. I have to say I've never been much of a yarrow fan, but your post is changing my mind. Just beautiful!!!!

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  26. Hi Greggo,
    Wow! These are great flower shots. You have a terrific garden blog! I'm home sick this morning (couldn't go to church) so I'm catching up. Your yarrows brought back wonderful memories from my childhood when we gardened in the unrelenting conditions of the Texas coastal prairie. I've not thought about this plant for many years. I'll try to find some and put in my garden here in the city.
    BTW: I've got you on my blog favorites list as of today. Hope my garden blog sends you some nice traffic.
    Happy Growing!
    David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston :-)

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  27. I love yarrow but mine always seems to flop over--yours look great. I think I'll move some to my curb garden and see how it does. Really liked the yellow.

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Thanks for leaving any comments, they are always welcomed. Sorry I had to add word verification as spam was becoming a huge problem. Greggo,