Introduction Yarrows, members of the aster family in the genus Achillea , are some of the easiest cut flowers to grow. They bloom from seed the first year and are very vigorous growers. Plants tolerate heat, cold, low soil fertility, and drought.
Yarrows rebloom after cutting and can be used both fresh and dried.
A wide variety of flower colors are available, including white, ivory, yellow, gold, coral, pink, red, lilac, and purple. There are close to 100 species of Achillea , but less than a dozen are cultivated as cut flowers. These five species have been crossed with each other to produce cultivars with larger flowers, more attractive colors, and stronger stems. The plants are compact, producing dense, convex flower heads 3 to 4 inches across on strong, well-branched stems. The aromatic, fernlike foliage is gray-green.