Achillea ptarmica Xana

The Achillea ptarmica ‘Xana’, also known as “Sneezewort,” is a cultivar with a low and compact habit. This bushy aromatic plant disappears all summer under clusters of dazzling small white flowers. Hardy, this beautiful perennial, particularly enjoys damp locations. It will brighten up the edge of a water feature. This elegant plant also works wonders in dry or fresh bouquets.

Achillea ptarmica, also known as Sneezewort, is a perennial stoloniferous plant from the Aster family, native to Northern Europe. It grows spontaneously in meadows, marshes, and along watercourses. The ‘Xana’ cultivar has an upright and low clumping habit, reaching about 50 cm (20in) in all directions. The flowering, very abundant, lasts from July to September. White flowers with cream-white centres appear at the tops of the stems, forming flattened or slightly rounded corymbs, highly visited by pollinators. They give rise to fruits called achenes. The stem is channelled and villous. The foliage is deciduous or semi-evergreen, aromatic, and finely dissected into strips. The lanceolate and narrow leaves are dark green. The plant spreads on the surface of the soil through stolons, allowing it to cover large areas.

The Achillea ptarmica ‘Xana’ is a stoloniferous plant that can be used as ground cover on large areas, along the edge of woodlands, or by a water feature. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in fresh and fertile, well-drained soil but can tolerate dry soils once established. Easy to grow, it will fit well in cottage gardens, naturalistic gardens, simple gardens, borders, flower meadows, or as cut flowers. It will blend in with scabious, iris, or phlox.