Achillea millefolium Walter Funcke

The Achillea millefolium 'Walter Funcke' is a variety of yarrow with warm and changing tones, magnificent under the sun, from summer to autumn. Above its feathery foliage of a soft green with a touch of grey, beautiful flower heads bloom, gradually transitioning from orange to orange-red, coral, and then brick red, finally turning to peachy yellow and cream, creating a flamboyant bouquet at the scale of the plant. This perennial confidently climbs up unforgiving slopes and colonizes wild areas of the garden, sometimes difficult to landscape. Both exuberant and undemanding, this garden staple brings a nostalgic charm to unpretentious flower beds in all regions.

Yarrow is a perennial, deciduous stoloniferous plant, very hardy, native to Europe and Asia Minor. It develops from spring into a compact and upright clump. It belongs to the family Asteraceae. 'Walter Funcke' reaches a height of 60 cm when in bloom, with foliage measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in). It spreads over 50 cm (20in) and more. The inflorescence is a slightly rounded, flattened corymb, about 5-7 cm (2-3in) in diameter. Flowering, which is prolonged, occurs from June to October. The tiny flowers are actually gathered in heads. Each head has yellow tubular florets in the central disc, while the peripheral florets are ligulate and change colour as they ripen. Together, they create a gradient of different shades ranging from brick red to cream, passing through orange and salmon. The stem is channelled and villous, with aromatic foliage, finely dissected into strips, feathery in appearance, and sporting a grey-green colour that perfectly enhances the flowers. 'Walter Funcke' yarrow spreads along the ground through stolons, allowing it to colonize large areas.

Achillea 'Walter Funcke' thrives in full sun, poor and well-drained soil. Use it in rock gardens, along the edge of a raised flower bed, for example, paired with Nepeta 'Walker's Low', Kniphofia 'Royal Standard', Stipa tenuifolia, Scabiosa caucasica 'Perfecta', and Pennisetum orientale 'Tall Tails'. With its stolons, it can be used as a ground cover over large areas. It allows you to avoid the necessary mowing of a lawn by replacing it in less trodden areas. It can tolerate competition from tree roots but does not flower in shade. As it is easy to grow and fairly drought-tolerant, it is perfect for dressing the base of shrub roses or bordering a sunny flower bed.

Medicinal perennial, yarrow has healing, hemostatic, antispasmodic, and tonic properties. Its young shoots can be used in omelettes or salads.