Yarrow Love Parade

This Yarrow looks great in so-called prairie plantings and gravel beds. It contrasts beautifully with:

• Ornamental grasses (e.g., Stipa, Panicum).
• Coneflowers (Echinacea, Rudbeckia) – the purple and yellow colors complement the pink of the Yarrow perfectly.
• Sages (Salvia nemorosa) and Stonecrops (Sedum). These plants have similar requirements for sun and drought.

Mostly no. Fertilizing is often counterproductive for Yarrow. Excess fertilizer causes rapid growth of green matter at the expense of flowers and stem strength, leading to clumps falling apart. If you have extremely poor soil, just add a very small amount of mature compost in spring, but generally, the plant manages on its own.

After planting: Water regularly in the first few weeks so the seedling roots well. The soil should be slightly moist, but never soggy.

For a mature plant: Once the plant roots (usually after the first season), it is relatively drought-tolerant. Achillea sibirica tolerates slightly more moisture than common Yarrow, but it still holds true that it does not tolerate waterlogging, which leads to root rot. Water only during prolonged drought.

The rule here is: Less is more. Yarrow 'Love Parade' specifically requires poorer, well-drained, and ideally gravelly soil.

Avoid:

• Heavy clay soils that retain water.
• Overly fertile soils rich in nitrogen.
• Adding large amounts of compost when planting.

If the soil is too rich in nutrients, the plant will grow extremely vigorously, but the stems will be weak and the plant will flop over and sprawl unattractively.

Yes, removing spent flowers is very beneficial.

1. After the first main flowering (June/July), cut the spent stems down to the ground.
2. This promotes the formation of new leaves and often a second flowering in late summer or autumn.
3. In autumn, you can leave the last blooms on the plant – they look nice even when dried and will be decorated by frost in winter.

Although Siberian Yarrow is related to our common Yarrow, which is a known medicinal herb, the 'Love Parade' cultivar is grown primarily as an ornamental plant. It is not traditionally used in folk medicine, and its flavor properties are not sought after for culinary use. We recommend enjoying its beauty in a vase rather than on a plate.

Yes, Achillea sibirica is a fully frost-hardy perennial (down to -40 °C), so it overwinters in our conditions without issues.

Winter care:

• No special protection (brushwood, etc.) is needed for winter.
• You can cut back the dry above-ground parts in autumn, but it is better to leave them in the flowerbed as natural protection and shelter for insects, cutting them back early in the spring (March) before new leaves begin to emerge.

You can plant Yarrow Achillea sibirica seedlings from spring to autumn, as long as it is not freezing. If you receive seedlings early in spring and frosts are still a threat, it is good to harden them off first (take them out during the day and bring them in at night) so they get used to outdoor conditions.

Planting procedure:

1. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball.
2. If you have heavy clay soil, add gravel or sand to the bottom as drainage.
3. Plant the seedling so that it is at the same depth as it was in the pot.
4. Water thoroughly after planting.

Flopping or toppling of the clumps is the most common sign with this cultivar that the location is too rich in nutrients or the plant lacks sufficient sun.

How to fix it:

• Do not fertilize.
• Ensure the plant has full sun for most of the day.
• Tip: You can perform the so-called Chelsea chop – at the end of May, cut the plant back by one-third. This promotes branching, makes the plant more compact and sturdier, and it will bloom slightly later.

Yes, it is an excellent cut flower! Its sweet pink flowers are larger than those of common Yarrow and stay fresh in a vase for up to 10 days.

• Harvest when the flowers are fully open and colored.
• Remove leaves from the bottom part of the stem so they are not submerged in water.
• The flowers are also suitable for drying in dried arrangements (they do not lose their color).

We have good news for you! Thanks to its content of aromatic compounds and specific taste, Yarrow is usually uninteresting to slugs and deer. It is therefore an ideal choice for gardens where you battle with these visitors.

It is a resilient plant, but problems may appear in unsuitable conditions:

• Powdery mildew (white mold on leaves): Appears if the plant is in shade, excessive moisture, or lacks airflow around it. Prevention is a sunny location and sufficient spacing between plants.
• Aphids: Occasionally they may attack young shoots. They can be rinsed off with a stream of water or treated with a soap spray.

The main difference is in the leaves and flowers:

• Leaves: While common Yarrow (A. millefolium) has finely divided, 'fern-like' leaves, Achillea sibirica has undivided, serrated, dark green, and glossy leaves. It appears more robust and decorative even without flowers.
• Flowers: The 'Love Parade' variety has larger flower heads with a specific, sweet pink color.

Yarrows contain substances (e.g., achillein) that can be mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses if the animal ingests them in large quantities.

• It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive salivation.
• In sensitive individuals, contact of the leaves with skin combined with sunlight can trigger an allergic rash (phytophotodermatitis), so we recommend using gloves when handling.

Since you are growing a cultivar, the best way to propagate is by dividing clumps.

• When: Ideally in spring (April) or autumn (September).
• How: Dig up the whole clump, divide it into smaller parts using a spade or sharp knife (each must have roots and buds), and replant immediately.
• Division is recommended every 3–4 years, also to rejuvenate the plant and improve blooming.