Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'

Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’ is a carefree and generously blooming perennial and a pretty addition to any border. From early to midsummer it displays large, flat-topped clusters of vibrant, pink flowers with tiny white centers. The cerise flowers are often darker on the margins and paler at the centre and fade to pale pink as they age. The blooms are borne on slender, sturdy stems which rise from vigorous clumps of dark green feathery foliage.

This hardy perennial is drought tolerant and requires little maintenance to create an explosion of late summer colour in a sunny spot at the backs of herbaceous borders. Try it among grasses, or in a gravel garden where it also enjoys the good drainage. The bright blooms are irresistible to butterflies, and also make excellent cut or dried flowers.

Sowing: February to June or September to October.
Sow the seeds on the surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or trays. Cover seed with only a light sprinkling of compost or vermiculite as light aids germination. Water from the base of the tray, Place in a propagator or warm place, ideally at 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F). Keep the compost moist but not wet at all times. Germination 5 to 10 days.
Prick out each seedling once it has its first set of “true” leaves and transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots containing free-draining compost and grow them on in frost free conditions until large enough to plant outside. Plant out in well drained soil in full sun.
Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out after all risk of frost has passed. Overwinter autumn sown plants in frost-free conditions before planting out the following spring. Plant 30 to 60cm apart.
Transplant to full sun and light soil; if the soil is rich, the stems get floppy. The plants dislike wet ground, particularly during winter. Improve heavy soil conditions by adding coarse grit or sharp sand prior to planting.

Cultivation:
Achillea is a very easy plant to care for and once established is reasonably drought tolerant. In summer, stake the flower stems of tall varieties with canes or brushwood before the flowers appear to prevent them drooping in wet weather.
Blooming is prolonged by regular removal of faded flower stems. Cut down to the ground in late winter, but resist the urge to do this earlier, as the seed heads look lovely in the winter light. Lift and divide large clumps in late autumn or early spring.
In very heavy soils cut flowering stems off at ground level in late September to early October to allow the plants to bulk up at the base and thereby get through the winter more easily.

Cut Flowers:
Cut when the flowers are well open but before the oldest flowers on the stem start to show signs of browning. Rain can damage the quality of the flowers, so cut back poor quality stems and wait for a second flush.
To dry, hang upside down in a warm (not hot) place with good air circulation. Drying too fast at high temps can cause browning, but drying too slowly may result in colour loss on the stems and leaves and give a less fresh appearance.

Garden Uses:
Coastal, Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower Arranging, Borders and Beds, Dry or Gravel Garden, Prairie Planting, Wildlife Gardens. Low Maintenance.

Other Uses:
In the garden, yarrow is said to increase the health of nearby plants and will intensify the flavour of herbs grown near it. It is also a good compost activator.
Its flowers attract many beneficial insects, including ladybirds and parasitic wasps that prey on garden pests, in particular aphids. Ants do not like the smell; crushed leaves can be used as a deterrent.
Several cavity-nesting birds, including the common starling, use yarrow to line their nests. Experiments suggest that adding yarrow to nests inhibits the growth of parasites.
Achillea is used for making natural dyes and will give a range of yellow, tan and green colours.

Historical Uses:
Yarrow has a great medieval herbal history, and has been used in medicine and magic for centuries.
It was commonly used to flavour beer before the introduction of hops, and it still flavours vermouth and bitters.
Yarrow was used by the Chinese as a herb of divination, the I Ching was originally thrown not with coins but with dried yarrow stalks.This plant has often been a device for divining the identity of one's future lover.
In the past, yarrow was used as a protectant. It was strewn across the threshold to keep out evil and worn to protect against hexes. It was tied to an infant's cradle to protect it from those who might try to steal its soul. The Saxons wore amulets made of this plant to protect against blindness, robbers, and dogs….among other things!

Origin:
Achillea millefolium is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and Asia, it is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere to an elevation of 3,500m. It has flourished in North America due to its ability to withstand drought.

Nomenclature:
Named by Linnaeus, its name is said to derive from Achilles. Homer’s hero in the Iliad, who was well-trained in healing wounds as well as in causing them. He was reputed to have used it to staunch the bleeding wounds of his soldiers.
Yarrow has been used for thousands of years to staunch the flow of blood and for other medical purposes, In antiquity, yarrow was known as herbal militaris or soldier’s herb, nosebleed plant, and soldier’s woundwort.
The species name millefolium and other common names such as milfoil, thousand-leaf and thousand-seal, refer to its feathery leaves which are arranged spirally on the stems.