Achillea 'Peter Cottontail'

Achillea 'Peter Cottontail': Whimsical White Blooms with Wild Garden Charm

Achillea 'Peter Cottontail' brings a playful and refreshing twist to the traditional yarrow with its soft, button-like ivory blooms that float like a constellation above finely textured green foliage. Unlike flat-topped Achillea cultivars, this variety’s rounded flowers offer a unique look and airy movement, giving it a naturalistic feel that blends beautifully into cottage gardens, pollinator plantings, and modern perennial borders. With a long bloom season and a tidy, clump-forming habit, 'Peter Cottontail' adds structure, whimsy, and ecological benefit—all with very little fuss.

Product Characteristics:

• Height: Reaches a moderate height of 45–60 cm, making it ideal for mid-border placement or interplanting among grasses and perennials.
• Spread: Spreads approximately 60–75 cm, forming a mounded clump with strong branching and a softly upright habit.
• Flower Colour: Creamy-white, button-like flower clusters resemble fluffy dots, blooming in abundance for a delicate, floating effect.
• Flowering Period: Blooms from early summer into early fall with excellent staying power and strong rebloom when deadheaded.
• Foliage: Finely textured, fern-like green foliage adds soft structure and stays attractive throughout the growing season.
• Sunlight Requirements: Thrives in full sun; performs best with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil and thrives in sandy, gravelly, or average conditions. Highly drought tolerant once established.

Uses and Benefits: Achillea 'Peter Cottontail' offers a fresh look in the garden with its rounded blooms and tidy form. Its creamy-white flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. With excellent drought resistance and deer resistance, it’s as tough as it is charming. Use it to soften mixed borders, edge pathways, or bring a naturalistic touch to more structured plantings.

Companion Plants: Complement the light, airy texture of 'Peter Cottontail' with Nepeta 'Walker’s Low'—its lavender-blue blooms and spreading habit provide contrast and pollinator appeal. Pair with Echinacea 'PowWow White' to echo the soft ivory tones while adding bold form and extended bloom time. Add Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' for upright spikes of deep violet that bring height and saturation to the mix. Together, these companions create a dynamic and drought-tolerant planting full of soft hues, layered textures, and pollinator activity.

Care Instructions: Once established, 'Peter Cottontail' is exceptionally drought tolerant and low maintenance. Water deeply during extended dry spells but avoid overwatering. Deadhead regularly to extend bloom time and encourage reblooming. Cut back in late fall or early spring to refresh the plant for the next growing season. Divide every 2–3 years in spring if needed to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.

History: Achillea 'Peter Cottontail' is a modern selection of Achillea millefolium, bred by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens for its soft, rounded blooms, longer flowering season, and refined garden habit. The name evokes the plant’s charming, fluffy flowers and whimsical garden presence. While A. millefolium is native to Europe and North America and long valued for its toughness and pollinator support, 'Peter Cottontail' brings a new form and texture to this classic species, offering something truly unique for both naturalistic and designed garden spaces.

Final Thoughts: Achillea 'Peter Cottontail' is a delightful choice for gardeners seeking soft beauty, resilience, and a long season of pollinator-friendly blooms. Its rounded, airy flowers add a whimsical touch to borders and meadows alike, while its compact, clump-forming habit keeps it neat and easy to manage. Whether used as a playful accent or massed for a cloud-like effect, 'Peter Cottontail' delivers gentle charm and strong performance from summer into fall.