Yarrow: the best varieties to use as groundcover

Achillea crithmifolia, a flowering alternative to the lawn.

Compact and vigorous, the Achillea crithmifolia is an ideal groundcover. This yarrow quickly forms a dense groundcover, which reaches a maximum height of 20 cm. It covers the soil with its finely cut, silvery grey-green foliage and is very soft to the touch when touched. Thanks to its persistent foliage, it makes a good alternative to lawn, provided it is not subjected to heavy trampling. In summer, from June to August, umbels of tiny white flowers with cream-yellow centres appear. Plant it in full sun or partial shade, in any soil type. But if you wish to encourage flowering, prefer a moist soil.

Pair this yarrow with other groundcovers, such as the Phyla or Lippia nodiflora – nodding verbena, which bear mauve to pale lilac flowers in May and June. You can also plant it beside Geranium sanguineum, Erigerons and Nepetas to form a pretty, natural and wild-looking flowering corner.

Achillea umbellata, a low-growing groundcover that sits close to the soil and is bright.

Achillea umbellata is another alternative to lawn, forming very low cushions about 15 cm tall. It features soft, evergreen foliage, a bright silvery-grey that becomes almost white in summer. It is covered with umbels of pure white in spring, from April to early June. This achillea spreads slowly and requires little maintenance. It is perfect in a rock garden, for naturalising a dry bank or edging a perennial border. It grows in full sun or partial shade in light, well-drained soil.

In a rock garden, try pairing this plant with dwarf Teucrium, such as Teucrium marum – Sea Germander, as well as the Centaurea bella – Elegant centaury.

Achillea millefolium 'New Vintage Violet', to brighten borders and slopes.

Yarrow or Achillea millefolium ‘New Vintage Violet’ offers an abundance of flowers in a sparkling violet-magenta colour, from June to September. Throughout the flowering period, the brightness of its cheerful colour never wanes. Hardy and vigorous, it quickly dresses borders and banks. At a mature height of 35 cm, it carpets the ground with a flowering carpet, which catches the eye. Its foliage, slate-green, dark and matte, is finely cut, feathery and aromatic, giving off a camphor-like scent. Drought-tolerant, this plant is water-efficient and well suited to an irrigation-free garden.

To showcase its vibrant tones and wild appearance, plant it alongside lightweight grasses such as the Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’, and sages such as the Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, with a touch of Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’ – Great Burnet.

Achillea millefolium 'Peggy Sue', a carpet of red flowers.

Achillea millefolium ‘Peggy Sue’ carpets of red flowers from July to September, filling borders or creating meadows in vivid colours. Growing to 60 cm tall at maturity, this perennial plant is semi-evergreen and bears aromatic foliage, compact, blue-green and finely dissected. This yarrow thrives in full sun in well-drained soil and, with its creeping habit and its flowers with deep red colour and white centres, offers a splendid display that attracts bees. It adapts to all soil types but prefers cool, light and fertile soil. It can be used in cut flower bouquets or also dried.

In full sun, have fun composing an exotic border, with this beautiful yarrow in vibrant colours. Plant it at the front of Cannas ‘Durban’ with orange flowers and lush purple foliage. Add touches of blue with shrub salvias – Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ – and punctuate with kniphophias bearing sunny flower spikes, which will contrast with the horizontal form of the yarrow’s umbels.

Achillea ptarmica 'The Pearl' (La Perle), a groundcover of silver buttons.

Nicknamed the ‘silver button’ due to its double flowers resembling white pom-poms, Achillea ptarmica ‘The Pearl’ is a compact yarrow reaching 30 cm in height. In summer, from July to August, its fine, finely cut, dark green foliage is crowned by a bright, pure-white display of flowers. Low-maintenance, it tolerates any well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. One drawback is that it often attracts aphids.

Use it as a spreading groundcover in borders, rock gardens or flowering meadows. It blends nicely, for example, with scabious, iris, and phlox.

Achillea ptarmica 'Nana Compacta', for partial shade and heavy soils

This Achillea ptarmica ‘Nana Compacta’ stands out from other yarrows in that it tolerates heavy soils and partial shade. This dwarf variety grows to a height of up to 20 cm and prefers cool, light and rich soil. It can also be grown in full sun. It produces, from July to September, white flower heads arranged in clusters with a silvery centre. It can be planted along the edge of a bed, at woodland margins, and in a meadow.

You can pair it with other yarrows taller and more colourful than it, such as Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’, Achillea millefolium ‘Terra Cotta’ and Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’, the latter’s foliage having the advantage of being evergreen.

Achillea ageratifolia, for brightening borders and rock gardens.

Achillea ageratifolia or agerate-leaved yarrow takes the form of small tufted cushions with silvery, soft-to-the-touch foliage. Reaching 15 cm in height at maturity, it is perfect for carpeting rockeries and borders. Its finely dentate foliage is semi-evergreen and is clothed with white flowers bearing pale yellow centres in June and July. It is a proven performer and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It thrives in full sun in any well-drained soil.

In a rock garden, plant this creeping plant alongside silver baskets, which will provide complementary flowering over time, as they bear small white flowers in April and May.

Further reading

Many other Achillea can be used as groundcover and come in other colours that will brighten your garden, such as bright yellow with the Achillea hybrid ‘Little Moonshine’ and Achillea tomentosa.

To complete this overview, discover:

• our full range of Achillea
• Our care guide on evergreen Achillea for a beautiful garden all year round