Achillea millefolium Desert Eve Deep Rose

'Achillea millefolium 'Desert Eve Deep Rose' is the pink version of this new series of compact, early-flowering, floriferous and brightly coloured yarrows. 'This robust and very hardy perennial' blooms regularly from May to August and offers large umbels of flowers with a very bright pink colour fading to a soft pink at maturity. A pretty undemanding plant, suitable for all areas. It is easy to grow in sunny borders and also adapts well to container gardening.

Achillea millefolium 'Desert Eve Deep Rose' is a deciduous perennial plant, with a powerful stoloniferous root system and an upright habit. It belongs to the Aster family. It is a recent cultivar, with early and extended flowering, and remarkable colour. The plant will reach about 40 cm (16in) in all directions, remaining compact.

The remarkably long flowering period extends from May-June to September. The colour of the flowers, ranging from fuchsia to pale pink, transforms the plant into a beautiful range of rose shades, enhanced by touches of creamy yellow. These flower heads, which appear at the top of the stems, form flat, slightly rounded and circular heads, about 10 cm (4in) in diameter, composed of numerous small flowers with a yellow centre, closely packed together, attracting butterflies. The stem is channelled and villous. The foliage is deciduous or semi-evergreen, a beautiful dark green, even aromatic when dry, and finely dissected into feathery strips, giving the leaves a feathery appearance.

The 'Desert Eve' yarrows are very well suited for container gardening, to decorate containers throughout the summer season, with very little maintenance, but regular watering. They will also integrate well into a rock garden, at the top of a wall, as a border or on a slope, where they will help stabilise and protect against erosion. These stoloniferous plants can be used as ground cover, planted in groups over large areas. They tolerate root competition from trees, which also allows for their use as ground cover at the edge of woodland areas. As they are easy to grow and tolerate drought well, they are perfect for dressing the base of shrub roses or bordering a sunny bed. The flowers, when picked before fully open, are ideal for making bouquets.