Achillea millefolium Hannelore Pahl

The 'Hannelore Pahl' Yarrow is a new creation by Bryan Kabbes with a sustained flowering period from July to September in apricot umbels that fade to a straw yellow colour. It forms a tall, fluffy clump of aromatic, grey-green leaves that are deeply dissected. Yarrow is known for being low-maintenance. Indeed, it thrives in well-drained soils exposed to sunlight. It is exceptionally heat-resistant and remains impeccable in all conditions. Exuberant and undemanding, this staple of cottage gardens adds a nostalgic charm to unpretentious borders. It is a quintessential perennial for flower beds, resilient and easy to grow in all areas. With its spreading habit, it is also well-suited for use as ground cover, gradually forming beautiful flower carpets as it spreads with its rhizomes.

Yarrow is a perennial stoloniferous plant native to Europe and Asia Minor that belongs to the Aster family. As a honey plant, yarrow attracts pollinators and supports the development of wildlife. The variety 'Hannelore Pahl' develops a clump of feather-like, matte leaves starting in spring, reaching a height of 20 cm (8in) and eventually 80 cm. It spreads to 60 cm. The stem is channelled and villous, and the aromatic foliage is finely dissected into strips. The flower head is a slightly rounded, flat corymb composed of numerous small flowers. When dried, the flowers remain decorative long after summer and can also be dried outside in the shade for creating dry bouquets. By regularly removing faded inflorescences, the highly recurrent flowering extends from July to September. It prefers fresh, light, and rich soils but remarkably tolerates limestone soils, dry soils in summer, and less sunny exposures.

As a perennial, hardy, and undemanding plant, 'Hannelore Pahl' Yarrow integrates well into a dry meadow in combination with pennisetum, blue asters, lavender, and orange echinaceas like 'Marmalade' and 'Tangerine Dream'. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, it is effective as a base around shrubs to border a sunny flower bed. In a mass planting with vibrant colours, consider combining it with silver-leaved plants like artemisias and purple, blue, and orange flowers. Pair it with plants with slender silhouettes like red hot pokers, Verbena bonariensis, Digitalis ferruginea, and 'African Queen' phygelius to enhance the horizontal aspect of its umbels.

 Yarrow is a plant with many healing properties. It can be used in various ways, especially for its leaves, which can help with healing and stopping bleeding.

The flowers, when highly concentrated, have a stimulating, tonic and antifever effect. In spring, the bitter-flavoured young shoots are harvested and used sparingly in salads, sauces or as sandwich garnish. In some parts of the world, it is used to flavour beers. Yarrow tea is known to be effective against oily skin.

Yarrow owes its name to the Greek hero Achilles, who supposedly discovered its medicinal properties by using it to treat soldiers' wounds during the Trojan War.