Achillea filipendulina Golden Plate

The Achillea filipendulina 'Golden Plate', also known as Filipendula yarrow or eupatorium yarrow, is a tall, upright, and vigorous perennial, well-suited to dry soils and sun-loving. It bears large, spherical and flattened flower heads of golden yellow, with a musky fragrance that lasts until late summer. Its delicate, feathery foliage displays a superb, vibrant green colour. This plant is ideal for decorating dry gardens and slightly wild areas of the garden. Brilliant and undemanding, this simple perennial illuminates the borders without pretension. Easy to cultivate in all areas, its flowers are magnificent and long-lasting in bouquets.

The Fernleaf Yarrow 'Golden Plate' is a rhizomatous perennial plant, forming dense and bushy shrubs from spring. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a cultivar derived from the Achillea filipendulina native to the Caucasus. The plant will quickly reach a height of 80 cm (32in) to 1.20 m (4ft) when in flower, with foliage ranging from 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16in). It spreads over 60 cm (24in) and more. The flower head is a flattened corymb, measuring 13 to 16 cm (5 to 6in) in diameter. The remarkably long and nectar-rich flowering period extends from June to October. This plant produces fruits called achenes from its flowers. The stem is angular, with soft hairs, and has a channelled structure. The leaves are deciduous or semi-evergreen, rough and hairy, and have a lovely fragrance. They are light green, feathery, and intensely lobed into fine strips. This makes the plant's appearance vivid and beautiful.

The 'Golden Plate' Yarrow will integrate well into a rustic border, a large rockery, or a slope that will contribute to fixing and protecting against erosion. In the sun, it pairs well with bright red or blue flowers found in roses, monardas, crocosmias, campanulas, and perennial delphiniums. In dry soil, it can be accompanied by sunflowers, echinaceas, shrubby salvias, caryopteris, 'Valerie Finnis' artemisia, and tall thistles. Once established, it is highly drought-resistant, making it suitable for pairing with lavender and rosemary in rocky soil.

According to Pliny, a Roman naturalist from the 1st century AD, its name comes from Achilles, a hero of Greek mythology, who used it to heal wounds. Achilles supposedly discovered the healing power of this plant during the Trojan War when he treated a wound following the advice of Venus.

The plant has recognised medicinal properties: the leaves have healing properties, and the flowers have a stimulating, tonic, and fever-reducing effect at high concentrations. Its young shoots can be used in omelettes or salads.