Georgia Gardener Newsletter Cool Plant

Georgia Gardener Newsletter Cool Plant: April 14, 2011

Red Velvet Yarrow

Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet'

Species Native Range: North America...somewhere

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Mature Size: 18-24 inches tall & 24 inches wide, spreading

Exposure: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained

Drought Tolerance: Stupendous

Ease of Culture: Too easy

I've developed a new appreciation for yarrow having moved to Montana nearly two years ago. This plant is most definitely native west of the Mississippi and I have been involved in deep conversations about its nativity east of the MS. I do believe that this species is native across most of North America, except in the deepest parts of the South. As a garden plant, it's easy to grow but a bit harder to contain.

Red velvet has some of the deepest crimson flowers to be found on yarrow. In late spring to fall (especially if dead-headed), the plant will produce clusters of tiny red flowers with even smaller yellow centers atop stems 18-24 inches tall above the fern-like foliage. The flowers are very attractive to all types of pollinators and the plant is a must in a butterfly garden.

Yarrow tolerates the worst of soils: dry, lean, compacted, however good drainage is a must as it's classified as a medicinal herb. Full sun is important as the plant will flower less and flop even in light shade, i.e. put this plant only where mad dogs and Englishmen dare to venture...in the midday sun. This plant scoffs at drought and is deer and rabbit resistant.

In the interest of full disclosure, yarrow tends to be just a bit of a garden thug. It likes to rule. It can spread both by runner and by seed, so I like to keep the fading flowers cut both for reblooming and population control. During the fall clean up, you may need to pull the excess plants (give them to a friend (-;).

Good companion plants include blue/lavender-flowering salvias, stokes aster, Virginia spiderwort, daylilies, cleome, cosmos and other sun-loving flowering shrubs, annuals and perennials that can hold their own.

Sources:

Many varieties of yarrow are commonly available at most retail nurseries. Specifically for 'Red Velvet', check out these online sources:

Brecks
Park Seed