How to Grow Achillea: A Guide for Beginners
Introduction
Achillea, also known as yarrow, is a popular perennial plant known for its beautiful flowers and feathery foliage. It’s a versatile plant that can be grown in a variety of settings, including borders, wildlife gardens, and gravel gardens. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about growing achillea, from planting to propagation and care.
Choosing the Right Location
Achillea prefers well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types, but it’s important to avoid waterlogged areas. Achilleas look great in the middle of an ornamental border or wildlife garden, and they’re also a good choice for growing in gravel gardens.
Planting Achillea
The best time to plant achillea is in spring. Dig a hole that is deeper and wider than the pot the plant came in. Add a handful of horticultural grit to the hole for added drainage. Place the plant in the hole, backfill with soil, and firm the soil around the plant. Water in well.
Caring for Achillea
Achilleas are relatively low-maintenance plants. Here are a few tips for keeping your plants healthy and blooming:
- Cut back old foliage in spring.
- Deadhead flowers throughout the summer to encourage more blooms.
- Divide clumps every three to five years to revitalize the plants.
- Water plants regularly, especially during hot weather.
- Fertilize plants lightly in spring.
Propagating Achillea
The best way to propagate achillea is by division in spring. You can also take cuttings in early spring. To take cuttings, pull away new shoots, leaving a heel, and plant into potting compost with added sand. Your cuttings should form new roots after a few weeks and can be potted on into individual pots when the plants are well established.
Some varieties of achillea will self-seed, but the resulting plants may not be true to type. If you want to collect seeds, allow a few flowerheads to go to seed. You can sow the seeds in autumn or spring.
Problem Solving
Achilleas can suffer from aphids and powdery mildew. To prevent these problems, keep plants well-watered and avoid overcrowding. If you do notice aphids or powdery mildew, treat the plants with an appropriate insecticide or fungicide.
Five Great Achillea Varieties
There are many different varieties of achillea to choose from. Here are five of our favorites:
- Achillea ‘Moonshine’: A variety with gray-green foliage and pretty light yellow flowers.
- Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’: With light green foliage and deep golden blooms.
- Achillea millefolium ‘Cerise Queen’: One of the pink varieties. The cerise flower heads have dark margins and paler coloring towards the center.
- Achillea millefolium ‘Fanal’: The bright orange-red flowers with yellow eyes are very striking.
- Achillea ‘Terracotta’: The beautiful blooms open orange and fade to yellow with age.
Conclusion
Achillea is a beautiful and easy-to-grow plant that can add a touch of color and interest to any garden. With its long blooming period and variety of colors and forms, achillea is a great choice for both beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
