Achillea millefolium Wonderful Wampee

Achillea millefolium 'Wonderful Wampee' is a variety of yarrow recently obtained in Holland. It is particularly appreciated for its compact habit and its abundant flowers of a rich pink colour that fade to a paler shade. The flowering lasts throughout the summer. The light, feathery, greyish-green foliage is abundant and can be deciduous or semi-evergreen. This wildflower will climb even the most inhospitable slopes and colonize slightly wild areas. Both exuberant and undemanding, this frequent visitor to cottage gardens brings a nostalgic charm to unpretentious flower beds. Easy to grow in all regions.

Yarrow is a perennial, stoloniferous plant native to Europe and Asia Minor. It develops a compact and erect clump from spring onwards. It belongs to the aster family. 'Wonderful Wampee' will reach a height of 60 cm when in flower, with foliage measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in). It spreads over 50 cm (20in) or more. The inflorescence is a slightly rounded flattened corymb, measuring 10 cm (4in) in diameter. The remarkably long flowering period spans from June to October. The flowers are actually heads, with tubular yellow disc florets, while the peripheral florets are intense pink when they first open and then become softer in colour, like a delicate pink blush. The overall effect is a delightful range of pink shades. The stem is channelled and villous, and the aromatic foliage is finely divided into strips, feathery in appearance, and a dark greenish-grey colour, matte. 'Wonder Wampee' yarrow spreads along the soil surface through stolons, enabling it to colonize large areas.

This hardy and undemanding perennial will integrate well in a rock garden, on top of a wall, as a border, or on a slope where it will help prevent erosion. With its stolons, it can be used as a ground cover over large areas. It allows you to avoid the necessary mowing of a lawn by replacing it in low-traffic areas. It tolerates competition from tree roots. As it is easy to grow and drought-tolerant, it is perfect for underplanting shrub roses or bordering a sunny flower bed.

Yarrow has medicinal properties, including wound healing, hemostatic, antispasmodic, and tonic effects. Its young shoots can be used in omelettes or salads.