Fernleaf yarrow ‘Coronation Gold’ is a hybrid resulting from a cross between Achillea filipendulina and A. clypeolata and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies, sunflower, and lettuce. Growing 2-3′ tall plants, form attractive mounds of gray-green basal foliage with deeply divided pinnate leaves that are fern-like, hairy, aromatic and up to 10″ long. The flowerheads consist of tiny yellow ray flowers surrounding a center of tiny yellow disc flowers. They appear in dense flattened compound corymbs up to 4″ across on stiff, erect stems in late spring to summer for an 8-12 week bloom time. Each plant can produce 15 to 50 flowering stems depending on the geographic location. Plants are excellent naturalized, in the border, and in meadow, cottage, cutting gardens. Flowerheads are good in both fresh and dried arrangements. The genus name, Achilles, honors the hero of the Trojan Wars in Greek mythology who is said to have used the plant medicinally to stop bleeding and heal the wounds of his soldiers. The epithet, filipendula, is the diminutive of the Latin words filum meaning thread, and pendulus, meaning hanging, and refers to the appearance of the leaves.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Flat clusters of mustard yellow flowerheads up to 4′ across from late spring into summer for 8-12 week bloom time
Size: 2-3′ H x 3′ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, dry to medium moist, well-drained; rich moist soil encourages floppiness.
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Care: Plants grown in partial shade will probably need staking. Deadhead to prolong bloomtime.
Pests and Diseases: Botrytis, stem rot, powdery mildew and rust are occasional disease problems are possible.
Propagation: Terminal cuttings in spring or early summer, division in spring or fall every 3-4 years; available seeds are probably not ‘Coronation Gold’
Companion Plants: Daylilies, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, red hot poker
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
T
Karen Meyers