Tip #10: Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow is a rugged, historical plant that brings a distinct, flat-topped flower structure to the summer garden. Its soft, feathery, fern-like foliage looks beautiful even before the plant bursts into bloom. When the flowers do arrive, they form dense umbels in shades of mustard yellow, terra cotta, soft pink, or crisp white.
You can count on yarrow to survive your most neglectful gardening weeks. It laughs at drought, thrives in poor sandy soil, and loves baking in the hot sun. Just like coneflowers, yarrow will become weak and floppy if you spoil it with rich compost and heavy fertilizer. It prefers tough love.
Yarrow also transitions perfectly from the garden to the vase. You can cut the sturdy stems for fresh summer bouquets, or hang them upside down in a dark, dry room to create lasting dried arrangements. The color of the blooms holds up incredibly well after drying, allowing you to enjoy your summer flowers long into the winter.
