Achillea 'Terracotta'

Description and Characteristics

Achillea ‘Terracotta’ is a striking herbaceous perennial yarrow, admired for its warm, earthy flower tones, long blooming period, and finely textured foliage. The flowers open in burnt orange to russet-red hues, gradually softening to shades of terracotta, buff, and creamy beige as they age, creating a dynamic and evolving colour palette across the growing season.

This variety forms a clump of soft, fern-like grey-green foliage, which serves as a contrasting backdrop for its large, flat flower heads (corymbs). Achillea ‘Terracotta’ is a favourite in cottage gardens, prairie-style plantings, and drought-tolerant borders, offering both ornamental and ecological value.

Mature plants reach around 60–80 cm in height and spread 40–60 cm, blooming from early summer into autumn with minimal care. It is excellent for cutting gardens, wildlife-friendly landscapes, and mass planting schemes where colour longevity and low maintenance are key.

• Flat, plate-like flowers in orange, terracotta, and soft buff tones

• Height: 60–80 cm; Spread: 40–60 cm

• Blooming season: June to September

• Foliage: finely divided, soft grey-green and aromatic

• Great for cutting, drying, borders, and naturalistic gardens

• Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Achillea ‘Terracotta’ is extremely easy to grow, thrives in sun and well-drained soil, and is perfect for low-water, low-care gardens. It performs best when grown without rich feeding or heavy watering.

• Light Requirements:

  • Requires full sun for compact growth and vibrant flower colour

  • Avoid shade, which can cause floppy stems and poor flowering

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soil

  • Will tolerate poor or rocky soil—excess fertility can reduce flowering

  • Dislikes waterlogged or heavy clay soil without amendment

• Watering Needs:

  • Water moderately during establishment

  • Once established, very drought-tolerant

  • Do not overwater—excess moisture encourages root rot

• Feeding:

  • Minimal feeding needed; a light compost mulch in spring is sufficient

  • Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilisers to prevent floppy growth

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering

  • Cut back to basal foliage in late autumn or early spring

  • Can be sheared lightly midseason for a second flush

• Dividing and Longevity:

  • Divide every 3–4 years in early spring or autumn to rejuvenate clumps

  • Helps maintain compact habit and prevent overcrowding

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 3–9 (RHS H7)

  • No special protection required—fully frost tolerant

Garden Design, Companions, and Pollinator Benefits

‘Terracotta’ brings warm colour, textural contrast, and season-long interest to the garden. It blends beautifully with naturalistic designs and supports biodiversity with its pollinator-friendly blooms.

• Design Uses:

  • Ideal for perennial borders, gravel gardens, prairie schemes, and wildflower plantings

  • Great for colour-themed beds with warm reds, oranges, and golds

  • Effective in mass plantings, informal drifts, or as part of dry borders

• Companion Plants:

  • Mix with rudbeckia, echinacea, salvia, sedum, agastache, and ornamental grasses

  • Contrasts well with blue or silver foliage from plants like Perovskia, Lavandula, or Artemisia

  • Blends with other achilleas for mixed textures and colours

• Pollinator Value:

  • Excellent source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

  • Supports insects throughout the summer months

  • Beneficial in wildlife gardens and organic planting schemes

• Cut Flower and Dried Use:

  • Long vase life—ideal for fresh arrangements

  • Excellent for drying—maintains shape and soft terracotta tones

  • Harvest when flowers are fully open for best effect

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant

  • Rarely affected by pests or diseases

  • Ensure air circulation to prevent powdery mildew in humid areas

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.