Yarrow with grey foliage: a refined and distinctive touch in the garden

The numerous benefits of yarrows

Yarrows are among those multifunctional plants that respond well to our current and future challenges in the garden.

First of all, they are very easy plants to grow, even for beginner gardeners. Not very demanding, they are content with even poor, rocky, or sandy soil, where other plants would not grow. They also tolerate some limestone. In terms of exposure, they appreciate the sun, even intense sunlight. Light actually helps to enhance the colours of their flowers. Partial shade can also be suitable. They are excellent allies for dry gardens, low-maintenance gardens, or those inspired by Mediterranean style. They show good resistance to drought (for most of them), as well as to winter cold (hardiness averaging -20°C). Independent, they will only require a few waterings during the first two years of establishment, then they will thrive on their own.

Furthermore, their generous flowering spreads throughout the summer. And it’s not just the gardener who benefits: being melliferous, the flowers bring joy to pollinating insects, true garden helpers.

Lastly, yarrows have medicinal properties. The flowers, as well as the foliage of the yarrow, are edible, especially the Achillea millefolium.

Resistant to extreme conditions, easy-going, and beneficial to biodiversity: yarrows are plants that will continue to thrive in our gardens.

Why choose grey-leaved yarrows?

Grey and silver foliage have many advantages for the garden.

First of all, it is a quite neutral colour, which does not steal the show from others, but rather enhances them. Therefore, it is a very easy colour to pair with. It brings a touch of clarity and elegance, yet still manages to stand out from the usual green foliage. Additionally, the foliage of achilleas is very finely cut, with a soft and velvety texture, which adds a complementary touch of lightness.

While they may seem dull at first glance, these grey foliage plants are actually quite luminous and contrast well in the garden. Sunlight can also contribute to giving them shiny, very ornamental reflections. Grey can range from the lightest shade, almost white, to the brightest, verging on silver.

Plants with grey foliage subtly enhance other plants

In which styles of gardens should grey-leaved yarrows be used?

As we have seen, the **yarrow** is a perfect candidate for dry gardens. The grey foliage will blend beautifully with mineral scenes made up of gravel, large stones, and other decorative rocks. It is obviously a plant to use without moderation in rockeries. It will thrive alongside **Sedums**, **houseleeks**, and **lamb’s ears**.

In a romantic garden, **yarrows** with grey foliage will bring a lot of softness and enhance even the lightest and pastel colours, such as pink, purple, or blue.

In a seaside garden, the **yarrow**’s resistance to sea spray will be exploited. For a Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere, grey-foliaged **yarrows** will blend beautifully in borders with typical shrubs like **rosemary**, **lavender**, **lavender cotton**, **common sage**, **Italian everlasting**, or **rockrose**.

Next, **yarrow** is of course essential in a natural or country garden. In a flowery meadow, grey foliage will perfectly enhance the colours of other flowers. Plant them alongside **coneflowers**, **alyssums**, **grasses**, **chamomiles**, cornflowers, **love-in-a-mist**, etc. They are also perfect candidates for vibrant mixed borders, which their grey foliage will temper.

Even in a contemporary garden, the grey foliage of **yarrow** will create beautiful contrasts, especially with red or purple blooms. It will also bring a graphic touch, thanks to its ornamental cut.

Finally, in the vegetable garden or in a cottage garden, **yarrow** with grey foliage will have its rightful place, thanks to its aromatic and medicinal properties, as well as its importance for **biodiversity**.


Grey-leaved yarrows with white flowering

They bring a touch of purity, a lot of clarity, but also a true rustic style. White flowering yarrows are particularly easy to pair, thanks to their neutrality. For example, you can opt for the Achillea umbellata. Its finely toothed foliage is a beautiful bright silver-gray in winter, then almost white in summer. The same applies to the Achillea kellereri and the Achillea ageratifolia, both of which produce white umbels.

Achillea umbellata

Grey-leaved yarrows with yellow flowering.

Here, the yellow **umbels** will contrast beautifully with the grey or silvery foliage. The hybrid yarrow ‘**Moonshine**’ for example, displays a bright yellow colour, enhanced by the silvery green foliage. In the case of **Achillea taygetea**, the **flower umbels** range from sulphur yellow to lemon yellow, set off by the beautiful **feathery** grey-green foliage. Let’s also mention **Achillea clypeolata**, with initially white flowers that turn yellow.

Yarrow ‘Moonshine’

Evergreen Silver Foliage Achilleas

If you want to enjoy the decorative grey foliage of yarrows all year round, opt for the evergreen varieties. Their colour will blend beautifully with the icy atmospheres of winter. Among them, we can mention the yarrow with umbels and Achillea kellereri.

Grey-leaved yarrows with a spreading habit

In borders, rockeries, or at the forefront of flower beds, these small yarrows measuring less than 30 cm in height will be perfect. They have a wider than tall silhouette, forming real small silvery vegetal cushions. Adorable as ground covers!

This is notably the case with ‘Little Moonshine’, very compact and easy to integrate with its 25 to 30 cm in all directions.

As for Achillea umbellata, it doesn’t even exceed 15 cm in height and will form a silvery carpet as bright as it is soft to the touch.

Yarrow ‘Little Moonshine’