Achillea Hoffnung

The 'Hoffnung' yarrow is an old hybrid perennial appreciated for its long summer flowering in flat umbels with light colours that change with time. Starting as peach, it lightens as it blooms, becoming cream through shades of sand to pale yellow. Robust and hardy, it forms a compact, bushy clump of semi-evergreen, channelled and slightly fragrant leaves of dark green colour. Like most yarrows, it is remarkably heat tolerant and remains impeccable in all conditions. Exuberant and undemanding, this staple of cottage gardens adds a nostalgic charm to unpretentious borders. Resistant and easy to grow in all areas.

The yarrow is a perennial stoloniferous plant native to Europe and Asia Minor that belongs to the Asteraceae family. 'Hoffnung' develops from spring onwards, forming a clump of feathery, mat leaves that will reach 75 cm (30in) in height when in flower. It spreads over 60 cm. The stem is channelled and villous, and the foliage, aromatic, is finely divided into strips. The flower head is a slightly rounded, flat corymb with numerous small flowers. The remarkably long flowering period extends from June to September.

As a perennial, hardy, and undemanding plant, the 'Hoffnung' yarrow will fit nicely in dry borders with blue flowering lavender or a mass planting with light-foliaged grasses such as blue oat grass and white roses. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, consider using it to dress the base of bushes or to edge a sunny border.

 Yarrow is a plant with many healing properties. It can be used in various ways, especially for its leaves, which can help with healing and stopping bleeding.