Yarrow (Achillea 'Feuerland' FIRELAND)

Overview

Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND, a striking cultivar of Yarrow, brings vibrant color contrast to the summer garden with its unique bloom cycle. This herbaceous perennial is valued for its masses of tiny, long-lasting, blood-red flowers that slowly transition to a soft gold, providing extended visual interest. It is a tough, adaptable plant, celebrated for its low maintenance needs once established.

The foliage of the Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND cultivar is deeply-dissected and aromatic, lending texture to borders throughout the growing season. This hybrid forms an upright, mat-forming clump, thriving in conditions that many other ornamentals find too harsh, including heat and drought. Gardeners appreciate its reliable performance in full sun and poor soils.

This Yarrow variety is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking perennial color that requires minimal fuss. Its durability, coupled with its attractiveness as both a fresh and dried material, makes Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND a practical cornerstone for sunny perennial beds, cottage gardens, and naturalized areas.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Asteraceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 2.5-3 ft
  • Spread: 1.5-2 ft
• Bloom Time: June to September
• Bloom Description: Blood red fading to soft gold
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Dry to medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND performs best when planted in full sun, utilizing the energy needed to produce its copious blooms. The ideal soil is lean, dry to medium in moisture, and well-drained, often favoring sandy loams. While it thrives in average garden soils, gardeners must strictly avoid heavy clay and soils that stay consistently moist or rich, as this encourages rot and floppiness.

Watering requirements are minimal once the planting is established; this Yarrow cultivar tolerates drought exceedingly well, thanks to its robust root system. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary, as lean soil promotes the upright, tidy habit desired. If you do prune, deadhead spent flower heads down to lateral buds regularly to encourage repeat blooming throughout the summer months.

For management, cut the entire planting back to the basal leaves after the main flush of bloom concludes. This tidies the look, encourages new foliage growth, and may prompt a smaller secondary bloom later in the fall. To maintain vigor in older clumps of Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND, plan to divide them every three to four years.

Landscape Uses

The structure and drought tolerance of this Yarrow make it supremely versatile in landscape design. Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND is perfectly suited for defining the middle or back of perennial borders where its bold upright form can stand tall against softer plantings. It functions beautifully as a specimen accent or can be massed for high-impact waves of color.

Given its tough nature, this cultivar excels in less manicured settings like cottage gardens, wild gardens, and meadow plantings where it blends effortlessly with ornamental grasses or other sun-loving perennials like Rudbeckia or Salvia. Its heat tolerance also ensures it remains steadfast even in challenging, exposed locations where wind protection might be sparse.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Good Cut
• Good Dried

Noteworthy Characteristics

Achillea is a genus of about 85 species of mostly herbaceous perennial from the Northern Hemisphere. The genus name Achillea refers to Achilles, hero of the Trojan Wars in Greek mythology, who used the plant medicinally. ‘Feuerland’ (FIRELAND) is noted for its deeply-dissected, fern-like, aromatic, medium green foliage and its long-lasting, blood red flowers which slowly fade to apricot-gold.

Tolerances

• Deer
• Drought
• Dry Soil

Potential Problems

While noted for its low maintenance, Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND can face occasional disease issues, including Botrytis, stem rot, powdery mildew, and rust, especially in humid conditions or if air circulation is poor. Good site selection—full sun and well-drained soil—is essential for preventative care. Poor drainage is the leading cause of failure, leading to stem rot quickly.

Taller plants, or those grown with too much rich moisture, may require staking to prevent lodging, especially when battered by strong summer rain storms or high winds. Even this upright hybrid can flatten out if not managed; cutting back post-bloom helps mitigate late-season tangling. Gardeners should also monitor spread, as this Yarrow cultivar can sometimes naturalize or spread somewhat aggressively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Yarrow suitable for?

This Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND cultivar is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.

How large does Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND grow?

It typically reaches a mature height of 2.5 to 3 feet tall, with a spread between 1.5 and 2 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Yarrow need?

For the best performance and vibrant bloom production, Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND requires full sun exposure throughout the day.

When does Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND bloom?

Bloom time spans from June well into September, featuring flowers that start as blood red and gradually mature to a soft gold hue.

Conclusion

Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND delivers outstanding value through its drought tolerance, low maintenance needs, and richly colored flowers ideal for cutting and drying. Adding this robust Yarrow to your sunny borders provides reliable stature and texture all season long. Always ensure your chosen site offers excellent drainage before planting your Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND.

Companion Planting

When designing with Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND, select companions that share its love for scorching sun and dry conditions. This allows for cohesive watering routines and prevents the Yarrow from turning leggy due to overly rich or moist soil intended for thirstier plants. Excellent companions include sturdy Lavender, which offers contrasting silver foliage and fragrance, or various Sedum varieties which handle the same dry site conditions elegantly.

Consider pairing the vertical, flat-topped flower heads of the Yarrow with plants that feature spike shapes or globe flowers, providing structural contrast in the border. Plants like Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or ornamental grasses that sway lightly in the breeze complement the stiff upright habit of the Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND beautifully without competing for resources.

Wildlife Benefits

The flattened corymbs of the Yarrow flowers are designed perfectly for easy access by beneficial insects. The tiny florets provide abundant nectar and pollen sources critical for local pollinators throughout the mid to late summer season. Its structure attracts a wide variety of small beneficial wasps and predatory flies that help keep garden pests in check naturally.

The dense foliage mound also offers excellent low-level ground cover, providing shelter and habitat close to the ground for small beneficial creatures over winter. Due to its resistance to deer browsing, the Achillea ‘Feuerland’ FIRELAND remains an attractive, dependable food source for insects without fear of being nipped back by larger herbivores.