Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet'
yarrow
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moist, well-drained, non acidic
- Rate of Growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: May to August
- Hardiness: fully hardy
The flattened, rosy-red flowerheads are held on upright stems above the aromatic fern-like foliage throughout summer. This cultivar is said to have a good resistance to colour fade. Best in full sun in the middle rank of the border. Achilleas will attract many beneficial insects including bees, butterflies and hoverflies to the garden. - Garden care: Protect from slugs. Stake using twiggy stems before the flowers appear. Cut back after first flowering to encourage secondary flush in late summer/early autumn. Old clumps can be revived by lifting, splitting and replanting in spring.
Knautia macedonica
knautia
Crimson, pincushion-like flowers
Anemanthele lessoniana
pheasant's tail grass (syn. Stipa arundinacea )
Versatile and colourful
Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
feather reed grass
Upright and architectural
Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'
sage
Dazzling purple blooms
Teucrium hircanicum 'Paradise Delight'
germander
Great tail-like flowers
Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen'
marjoram
Aromatic leaves and pink flowers. Ideal for edging
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This berry-red achillea keeps it colour, darkening with time to loganberry red - drift it through silver plants and it will glow like candlelit rubies on a necklace
Val Bourne - Garden Writer