Catalog Description
Finely textured, fern-like gray-green foliage makes an excellent base for the tall heads of reddish flowers. Herbaceous perennial performs in hot, dry situations with poor soil. Flower heads can be dried. Full sun. Foliage grows to 2 feet wide, flowers to 3 feet tall. Cutting grown. |
Design Ideas
An outstanding Mediterranean aromatic everlasting for southern European looks in beds and borders. Makes a fine easy perennial for the border with long lasting color. Works nicely in dryland xeriscapes where it matches demands of arid western natives. A traditional component of herb, cutting and knot gardens.
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Companion Plants
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Average Landscape Size
Foliage grows to 2 ft. tall, flowers to 3 ft. tall. |
Key Plant Benefits
Finely textured, fern-like gray-green foliage makes an excellent foil for the tall heads of reddish-brown flowers. A proven performer in hot, dry situations with poor soil. Flower heads can be dried. |
Care Instructions
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new leaves emerge. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring. |
Growth Conditions
| Growth Rate |
 Moderate Growing |
| Growth Habit |
| Mat |
| Heat Zones |
High:
| 9 (>120 to 150 days) |
| Low: | 1 (< 1 days) |
| Cold Hardiness |
| High: | 9 (20 to 30 F) (see map) |
| Low: | 3 (-40 to -30 F) |
| Water Requirements |
| Once established needs only occasional water. |
| Sun Exposure |
| Full sun |
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Flowering
Flower or Bloom description:
Flat flowerheads 3 - 5 in. across with clusters of tiny, daisy-like flowers
| Flower Color |
| Red |
| Flowering Time/Season |
| Summer |
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Propagation
| Propagation Method |
1
| Cutting grown |
| Best time to Prune |
| Fall |
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Attributes
Attracts Butterflies
Border Plant
Drought Tolerant
Easy Care Plant
Extremely Hardy
Flowers for Cutting
Fragrant
Mass Planting
Mediterranean Garden
Rock Garden Plant
Seacoast Exposure
Summer Flowering
Tolerates Poor Soils |
Foliage
finely textured, fern-like, 6 - 12 in. long
| Foliage Shape | Lance-shaped |
| Normal foliage color | Gray |
| Underside foliage | Gray |
| Juvenile foliage | Gray |
| Mature foliage | Gray |
| New foliage | Gray |
| Spring foliage | Gray |
| Summer foliage | Gray |
| Fall foliage | Gray |
| Winter foliage | Gray |
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Plant Lore
In the mythical siege of Troy, it is said that yarrow was the plant given by the centaur Chiron to the Greek general, Achilles. It's foliage is a natural coagulant used ever since to treat wounds on the battlefield. Flowers of yarrow are known as "everlastings" due to their ease of drying and color retention. |
Plant History
This native perennial of Europe is the hybrid offspring of white flowered A. millefolium, the plant of old European herb gardens. The species is named after milfoil, an old herbalist's term for leaves cut into many smaller pieces to describe its fine ferny foliage. Yarrow was spread by ancient armies which cultivated it in far flung outposts as a vital battlefield coagulant. |
New Plant
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