Achillea crithmifolia

The Achillea crithmifolia, or Sea Fennel-leaved Yarrow, is a vigorous perennial plant that quickly forms a wide and dense evergreen carpet. Its finely cut, silvery grey foliage is soft to the touch and adorned with white to creamy umbels in summer, varying in abundance depending on the soil moisture. Perfectly hardy and tolerant of summer drought, it can withstand moderate footfall, making it an excellent alternative to lawns, even on large surfaces. It can be grown in full sun or partial shade, in any type of soil, on its own or in combination with other ground cover plants.

The Achillea crithmifolia, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is native to mountainous regions in the Balkans. The plant forms a vigorous, naturally-looking ground cover, reaching a height of 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10in) when in bloom, depending on growing conditions. It spreads rapidly, covering an area of 50 cm (20in) to 1m (3ft) through suckers. Its foliage, evergreen in winter, may dry out in summer during periods of intense drought, but the plant will quickly recover with the first rains. Finely cut, feathery, with a greyish-green colour and silvery reflections, and slightly downy, it has a very soft appearance that is pleasant to touch. The flowering, more abundant in moist soil, occurs in June-July, with flat umbel flower heads composed of tiny white flowers with creamy yellow centres.

All yarrows thrive in full sun and have excellent hardiness. Achillea crithmifolia requires very little maintenance and can be used as a ground cover on fairly large surfaces, up to 200 square metres. Yarrow is a plant that can be a great addition to your garden. It is very hardy, undemanding, and water-efficient. This plant can limit the growth of unwanted plants and give a natural look to your garden. To control its invasive tendencies, you can install anti-rhizome barriers. It can even replace the need for mowing and watering that comes with having a lawn, even in dry climates with moderate traffic. It can be combined with other vigorous ground cover plants with complementary growth cycles, such as Phyla nodiflora: in summer, the lush and flowering Phyla dominates, while in winter, the soft silvery foliage of the Achillea takes over. This beautiful combination can also effectively cover the ground in solid perennial flower beds, such as Geranium sanguineum, Erigeron karvinskianus, and Nepeta x faassenii. Many combinations are possible, including Thymus (hirsutus, ciliatus) and other yarrows (millefolium, coarctata, nobilis).