Achillea millefolium Desert Eve Terracotta

The Achillea millefolium 'Desert Eve Deep Terracotta' is part of a new series of compact, early-flowering, floriferous and brightly coloured yarrows. 'Terracotta' blooms regularly from May to August and offers large umbels of caramel orange flowers, on a fine foliage of dark green, deciduous and fragrant fern-like leaves. This undemanding and frugal perennial will decorate flower beds and containers throughout the summer season. It is easy to grow in all regions. Excellent as a cut flower, fresh or dried.

The 'Desert Eve Terracotta' yarrow is a deciduous perennial plant, with a powerful stoloniferous root system, and an upright habit. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a recent cultivar, with early and extended flowering, and remarkably colourful. The plant will reach approximately 40 cm (16in) in all directions, while remaining bushy.

The remarkably long flowering period extends from May-June to September. The colour of the flower heads, a burnt caramel to orange hue, with small yellow touches, does not fade under the sun. These flower heads, which appear at the tops of the stems, form flattened, slightly rounded and circular corymbs, about 10 cm (4in) in diameter, composed of numerous small flowers tightly packed together, attracting many butterflies. The stem is channelled and villous. The foliage is deciduous or semi-evergreen, of a beautiful dark green colour, aromatic even when dry, and finely divided into 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.