Achillea
Moonshine
“The quiet workhorse of the summer border. 'Moonshine' is beautiful fresh, beautiful dried, and a magnet for anything with wings.”
— ROSIE
Rosie's Take
Achillea is one of those flowers that works harder than it gets credit for. In a garden border it's the reliable one — always there, always good, never making a fuss. 'Moonshine' is my favourite variety, with flat-topped clusters of the palest, most buttery yellow sitting above silvery, feathery foliage that's almost as beautiful as the flowers.
It's the colour that gets me. Not bright yellow, not lemon — something softer, like old parchment or cream that's been left in the sun. It pairs with absolutely everything because it doesn't compete. Put it next to lavender and they sing. Put it next to something hot — a crocosmia, say — and it cools things down. It's the diplomat of the flower border.
As a cut flower, achillea is brilliant. It lasts well in water and it dries perfectly — just hang it upside down and it keeps that pale yellow for months. I have dried bunches dotted around the house from last summer and they still look intentional rather than forgotten.
It's also one of those plants that attracts every hoverfly and butterfly in the postcode, which matters. A garden should feed things as well as look good. 'Moonshine' does both without being asked twice.
Where to Buy
If you want to try achillea for yourself, here's where I'd point you:
✿ From the folklore cabinet
Achillea is named after Achilles — legend says he used yarrow to treat his soldiers' wounds during the Trojan War. It's been used as a healing herb for thousands of years, and country names like 'soldier's woundwort' and 'staunchweed' tell you exactly what it was for. I just like the way it looks next to lavender.
