Achillea New Vintage™ Red

Achillea New Vintage™ Red: Red Yarrow That Refuses to Fade

Deep red clusters on sturdy stems, and when it finishes, it goes right back for another round. This yarrow is a full-bodied red with a very long finish. DECANT IT IN FULL SUN.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium 'Balvinred'
• Common Name: Yarrow
• Series: New Vintage™, sold by Proven Winners®
• Height: 66–71 cm (26–28 in)
• Spread: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
• Flowers: Deep red, in flat-topped clusters on sturdy stems
• Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall (June to September), with rebloom
• Foliage: Green, finely divided and fragrant
• Features: Reblooming, salt tolerant, good for cut and dried flowers
• Plant Patent: USPP 25,618

Where to Plant: Its narrow footprint makes it easy to tuck into a sunny border, a pollinator patch or a container, and several planted together make a solid block of red. Because it tolerates salt, it's a good choice for sunny beds near a sidewalk or driveway. Grow enough to cut, since the stems work fresh or dried.

Companion Plants: Geum triflorum opens soft pink flowers in late spring, giving the front of the bed an early start. Coreopsis UpTick™ Gold & Bronze blooms right alongside the yarrow from June to September in warm gold and bronze. At the back, Alcea 'Purple Rain' grows to about 180 cm with purple flowers through the summer. Everything here likes full sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Skip the rich compost and fertilizer, which only make yarrow lean and sprawl. Water regularly the first season. After that, it's happy with average to dry conditions. Shear off spent flower stems to encourage the next round of bloom. Cut the plant back in late fall or early spring. Divide every few years in spring if the clump spreads or thins in the middle.

History: Common yarrow, Achillea millefolium, grows wild across much of the Northern Hemisphere and has been used in gardens and folk medicine for centuries. The New Vintage™ series was selected for compact, sturdy plants with stronger colour than older yarrows.

Final Thoughts: Salt, drought and deer barely register. Deadhead it and it pours again. A VINTAGE YOU NEVER HAVE TO CELLAR.