Achilleas, or yarrows, are fabulous perennial plants for high summer. Their flat, sometimes saucer-sized blooms are made up of hundreds of nectar-rich flowers and, because they’re open and accessible, make an ideal landing pad for pollinators such as bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths.
When I started gardening, the sulphur yellow Achillea ‘Moonshine’ was the most popular variety (bred by Alan Bloom in the 1950s). More recently breeders have tweaked plants, broadening the colour range into spicy reds, terracottas and oranges, as well as soft and strong pinks. Their low, feathery foliage is attractive too, varying from silver greys to sage greens.
Most garden designers love achilleas. Their flat form adds subtle horizontal brushstrokes (never plant just one) to a border and works nicely with more
