Lean soil
Avoid rich fertilizer and wet ground; both encourage weak, floppy growth.
Hardy perennial · Asteraceae
Terracotta
Yarrow
Achillea ‘Terracotta’
Flat-topped flowers open peachy yellow and age through copper and warm orange-brown, offering an easy landing platform for butterflies and many small beneficial insects.
LightFull sun
SoilDry, well-drained
Height2½–3 ft
BloomEarly–late summer
Planting instructions
Start seedSow indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost, or direct-sow after frost. Press seed onto moist mix and barely cover; light helps germination.
TransplantHarden seedlings for 7–10 days. Set outside after hard frost danger, planting at the same depth as in the pot.
SpaceAllow about 18–24 inches. Water well at planting, then let the surface dry between waterings as roots establish.
Care & pollinators
Repeat bloom
Deadhead spent clusters or cut stems back after the first flush.
Pollinator partners
Pair with catmint, coneflower, blazing star and salvias to extend nectar and pollen across the season.
Collecting seed
‘Terracotta’ is a named cultivar. Open-pollinated seedlings may vary in color and form and may not come true to the parent.
Wait for dry headsLeave selected flower clusters until brown, crisp and fully dry on the plant.
Bag and cleanClip into a paper bag, crumble when thoroughly dry, and screen or winnow away chaff.
Label honestlyRecord the cultivar parent, collection year and “open-pollinated—offspring may vary.” Store cool, dark and dry.
Record details
Seed lot: ______ Source: ______ Harvested: ______ Viability: ______
Sources: Smithsonian Gardens; Missouri Botanical Garden; Wikimedia Commons photo page.