Yarrow (Achillea 'Terracotta')
Achillea 'Terracotta' Yarrow offers stunning reddish-brown blooms atop ferny foliage, thriving in full sun with low maintenance.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Achillea ‘Terracotta’, commonly known as Yarrow, is prized by gardeners for its robust nature, vibrant, long-lasting blooms, and exceptional drought tolerance once established. This herbaceous perennial provides fantastic texture with its deeply cut, aromatic foliage, serving as a reliable workhorse in sunny borders. The signature blooms transition from peachy yellow to a rich coppery bronze, offering consistent color through the height of summer.
The appeal of Achillea ‘Terracotta’ lies in its minimal demands coupled with maximum impact. It thrives in heat, handles humidity better than some relatives, and fits perfectly into low-water landscaping schemes. Whether used for bulk massing or as a texture element, this Yarrow cultivar maintains excellent form and reliable performance across many soil conditions.
For gardeners seeking plants that require little fuss but deliver significant aesthetic payoff, Achillea ‘Terracotta’ is an outstanding choice. Its sturdy stems and colorful flower clusters make it invaluable for informal settings, meadows, and cottage gardens where drought tolerance is a major requirement.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2.5-3 ft
- Spread: 2-2.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Reddish brown
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Achillea ‘Terracotta’ prefers planting in lean, dry to medium moisture soils that are well-drained, ideally sandy loams. Full sun exposure is critical to maintain compact habit and avoid floppiness. While this Yarrow performs well in average garden soils and tolerates poor conditions, it strongly dislikes heavy, wet clays or overly rich, fertile sites. Locate plants where they receive protection from the fiercest winds, as necessary.
Watering should be spared once the plants are established, as they are highly drought tolerant. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary; rich soil often leads to weak stems. The primary cultural task involves managing the bloom cycle. Deadhead spent flower heads promptly, making cuts down to the nearest lateral bud to encourage continuous flowering.
After the main bloom period subsides, cutting the plant back to the basal leaves helps tidy the appearance and can stimulate new foliage growth, potentially leading to a secondary, shorter bloom in the fall. To maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding, plan to divide the clumps every three to four years.
Landscape Uses
The toughness and upright habit of Achillea ‘Terracotta’ make it ideal for integrated landscape designs. It readily integrates into groupings or mass plantings, providing bold drifts of color that look superb in cottage gardens and wild areas. Its recommended uses include borders, where it provides mid-to-back border height, and naturalized settings like meadows.
Due to its tolerance for dryness and poor soil, Yarrow is an excellent choice for difficult sunny spots where many other perennials would struggle. Pair the coppery hues of Achillea ‘Terracotta’ with blue-flowering companions like Salvia or Catmint to create high-contrast visual interest mid-summer. Its structure also works well as an anchor plant in specimen groupings.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
Noteworthy Characteristics
The genus Achillea contains about 85 species, predominantly herbaceous perennials from the Northern Hemisphere. ‘Terracotta’ is distinguished because its flower heads open showing peachy yellow tones before maturing into a rich coppery bronze, densely packed in flat-topped corymbs. The deeply-cut, fern-like foliage is aromatic when crushed, and the long bloom period is extended by simple removal of faded flowers.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
While generally tough, Achillea ‘Terracotta’ can occasionally suffer from fungal issues like powdery mildew, rust, or Botrytis, especially in humid or shaded conditions. Stem rot is a risk if drainage is inadequate or if planted in overly rich, moist soil. Taller varieties may occasionally require staking, although this hybrid is relatively sturdy. Strong spring rains combined with sharp winds can flatten exposed plantings, underscoring the need for protection from severe weather. Preventative care focuses on ensuring excellent air circulation and avoiding wet sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Yarrow suitable for?
Achillea ‘Terracotta’ Yarrow is hardy and well-suited for cultivation across USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Achillea ‘Terracotta’ grow?
This perennial typically reaches a height between 2.5 and 3 feet, with a spread ranging from 2 to 2.5 feet at maturity.
What sun exposure does Achillea ‘Terracotta’ need?
For optimal performance, Achillea ‘Terracotta’ requires full sun to develop strong stems and maximize its bloom potential.
When does Yarrow bloom?
This Yarrow variety displays its characteristic reddish-brown blooms from June through August.
Conclusion
Achillea ‘Terracotta’ offers reliable, drought-tolerant structure and striking coppery color, making it an indispensable perennial for hot, sunny borders. This low-maintenance Yarrow is easy to incorporate into virtually any sunny design schematic. Before planting, confirm your site provides the necessary full sun and excellent drainage to ensure the best performance for your Achillea ‘Terracotta’.
Companion Planting
When designing beds featuring Achillea ‘Terracotta’, focus on companions that appreciate sharp drainage and full sun. Plants with contrasting flower shapes, like the upright spikes of Veronica or Salvia, work wonderfully alongside the flat umbels of the Yarrow. Consider using ornamental grasses nearby, such as little Bluestem, to enhance the meadow-like, naturalized feel that this plant naturally encourages, while still benefiting from its heat resilience.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Early spring is the time for cleanup; cut back old, faded foliage close to the ground once new growth begins to emerge. During the primary summer bloom period (June through August), deadheading spent flower heads is vital for extending the show and managing the plant’s energy reserves. In late fall, after the final frost, you can trim the stems back hard or wait until very early spring before cutting back the dormant growth of this hardy perennial.
