Achillea millefolium Sammetriese

An ancient popular variety, the yarrow 'Sammetriese' forms a tall rounded clump of aromatic, feathery foliage in a grey-green colour. In summer, its flowers emerge in numerous magenta red, raspberry pink umbels. Easy to grow, this plant is suitable for both amateurs and beginner gardeners. Yarrow can be planted in all regions, in sunny and well-drained soil. It is a perennial plant that is ideal for flower beds. Resistant to heat and summer drought, it is also suitable for dry gardens. With its spreading habit, it can also be used as a ground cover and can eventually form beautiful flowering carpets as it spreads with its rhizomes.

Yarrow is a stoloniferous perennial plant native to Europe and Asia Minor, belonging to the asteraceae family. It is attractive to pollinators, especially beetles. It forms a clump of characteristic leaves that resemble those of some ferns. 'Sammetriese' reaches a height of 80 cm and has a spread of 50 cm. The stem is channelled and hairy, and the aromatic foliage is finely dissected. The inflorescence is a slightly rounded and flattened corymb, held well above the foliage. It is composed of numerous small flower heads. When dried, the flowers remain decorative long after summer and can also be dried outdoors in the shade for creating dried bouquets. By regularly removing faded inflorescences, the flowering is very perpetual. It prefers moist, light, and not too rich soils, but remarkably tolerates limestone soils, dry soils in summer, and less sunny exposures. Heavy, waterlogged soils should be avoided.

Perennial, hardy, and undemanding, 'Sammetriese' yarrow will fit well in a dry meadow with golden grasses, the airy blooms of gauras, and blue catmints. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, consider using it to dress the base of shrubs or to border a sunny bed. In a sunny bed, plant it with light orange flowers of geums, raspberry and white shrubby salvias, wine-red monarda 'Scorpion', and blue geraniums. Consider pairing it with slender silhouettes that will enhance the horizontal aspect of its umbels.

The plant has recognized medicinal properties: it is hemostatic, the leaves are healing, and the flowers have a stimulating, tonic, and fever-reducing effect at high concentrations. The young shoots, with a bitter taste, are harvested in spring and can be consumed sparingly in salads, sauces, or as sandwich accompaniments. In some regions, it is used to flavor beers. Yarrow tea is effective against oily skin.

Yarrow owes its name to the Greek hero Achilles, who is said to have discovered its medicinal properties by using it to treat soldiers' wounds during the Trojan War.