Achilleas are cheery border, wildflower and rock garden plants with flattened heads in a range of bright colours from white to lemon, pink and red. Recommended varieties
New colourful varieties keep coming on the market. Easily grown, they look after themselves and give a failsafe show.
Achilleas are usually deciduous perennials best suited to cottage rather than formal gardens.

Growing tips
Site and soil preferences
Provide good sun and light, sandy soils. They almost invariably die over winter if there is any clay in the ground.
Deadheading
Achilleas flower from June to July, and sporadically in August and September if the plants are deadheaded.
Cutting back and dividing
Some varieties stand a better chance of surviving if they are cut back hard after flowering. Divide and rejuvinate the older plants in autumn or spring, although these new plants usually have inferior flowers to their parents.