Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet' 

About this cultivar:

Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet' is a vigorous mat-forming perennial, with finely divided leaves and leafy stems bearing flat heads, composed of many small rose-red flowers opening throughout the summer. In 2014 it was awarded the RHS AGM.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil that is reasonably well drained
• Flowers: May, June, July, August
• Other features:  Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM), Cut Flowers or Dried Flowers
• Hardiness: H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20°C)
• Habit: Bushy, mat forming
• Foliage: Semi evergreen
• Height: 45 to 60 cm  (1.5 - 2 ft)
• Spread: 45 to 60 cm  (1.5 - 2 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Red, green
• Goes well with: Most grasses and prairie style plants, Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldschleier', Salvia × sylvestris 'Mainacht', Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', Echinacea 'Tomato Soup', Echinacea purpurea 'Razzmatazz', Stipa tenuissima

About this genus:

Achillea, commonly called common yarrow, is a rhizomatous, spreading, upright to mat-forming perennial. Achillea is in reference to Achilles, hero of the Trojan Wars in Greek mythology, who used the plant medicinally to stop bleeding and to heal the wounds of his soldiers.

Often garden Achillea are members of the millefolium species. The specific epithet of millefolium means thousand-leaved in reference to the foliage being more intense than other Achillea. Achillea has a plethora of additional common names, including milfoil, thousandleaf, soldier’s woundwort, bloodwort, nose bleed, devil’s nettle, sanguinary, old-man’s-pepper and stenchgrass.

Yarrow ale was a popular choice for weddings because of its tendency to increase energy, act as an aphrodisiac and generally “make the guests crazy.” At Ballyrobert we use it solely for gardening purposes..... honestly.

There are many cultivars of Achillea in a variety of colours. It prefers to be grown in most soils that are reasonably well drained. Achillea is another versatile plant in the garden at Ballyrobert;  it looks great with all sorts of grasses and prairie style plants but the fern-like foliage and cow-parsley type flower heads also help it blend with some woodland or cottage style plants. When it dies back for the year Achillea dries out fully and gives great structure to the garden - it is often used for dry flowers and flower arranging.