Achillea and Gaillardia for Sustainable Gardens

These Native Wildflowers Will Thrive in Drought Tolerant Conditions

Oct 15, 2008 Christine Eirschele

Achillea and Gaillardia, also called yarrow and blanket flower, are from the same botanical family Asteranceae, as Solidago and Aster. All these plants are native wildflowers found in parts of the United States and Canada.

Yarrow and Blanket Flower Plants

Achillea and Gaillardia grow and thrive well in full sun, hot dry soil conditions, once established, and do not tolerate rich soil. These characteristics make plants like Achillea and Gaillardia excellent choices for sustainable gardens.

When planted together they provide an unbroken sequence of flowers. Yarrow blooms from late spring through late summer and blanket flower overlaps from June into October. These native wildflowers attract butterflies and bees, yet at the same time are deer resistant. Gardeners wanting a cleaner appearance in plant beds should consider using cultivars of these plants.

Achillea Filipendulina

Achillea filipendulina is a species commonly called fernleaf yarrow. The plant gets three to four feet tall and has gray green foliage. Although planting information indicates this plant seldom needs staking, caution when siting this plant is suggested. Yarrow plants grown on windy sites tend to decline by late summer.

The cultivar ‘Coronation Gold’ is a hybrid and gets 24” - 36” tall. Achillea ‘Moonshine’ is a compact hybrid that resembles ‘Coronation Gold’ but is a smaller size and lighter yellow color. ‘Moonshine’ grows one to two feet tall and blooms June through September.

Achillea Millefolium

Achillea millefolium, called common yarrow, has an invasive habit. The plant gets one to three feet tall and requires staking if not cut back. Common yarrow will thrive in average to poor soils.

Cultivars of Achillea millefolium include:

• ‘Red Velvet’ grows 24” – 30” tall. The rose red flower does not fade, keeping its color longer.

• ‘Flowerburst Red Shades’ has eight-inch slightly fragrant blooms in red, pink and violet. The plant grows 2 ½’ tall.

Despite yarrow’s ability to thrive in poor soil and tolerate hot dry conditions, this plant requires well draining soil to remain healthy. Yarrow should be deadheaded to reduce reseeding and pruned back after the first flowers to encourage repeat blooming and keep the plant manageable. Yarrow is best planted in hardiness zones 3 – 8.

Gaillardia X Grandiflora

The two to three feet tall blanket flower has deeply lobed fuzzy foliage and daisy shaped flowers. Like yarrow, blanket flower needs well draining soil to thrive. This plant will not survive over winter, when planted in heavy clay soils. Although blanket flower blooms continually to late fall, pruning back this plant to redirect its energy is recommended to prepare for winter.

Suggested Gaillardia cultivars include:

• ‘Goblin’ is excellent for containers. This plant will tolerate dry soil between watering.

• ‘Oranges & Lemons’ was discovered in England. The plant reaches 18” – 24” tall and has blue green foliage. The large peachy-orange flower petals are tipped with yellow, the centers are gold.

Gaillardia Pulchella

Gaillardia pulchella is an annual because the plant will die with the first season’s frost. Gaillardia pulchella is Oklahoma’s State Wildflower.

Gaillardia Suavis

This blanket flower has a pincushion type flower on a leafless flower stalk. The plant is found in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas growing in rocky sites. Perennial Gaillardia is hardy from zones 3 – 10