This striking perennial adds colour and texture in the Scented Garden.
Belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae), the genus Achillea comprises 85 species from mountains, grasslands and wastelands of the northern hemisphere. The genus takes its name from Achilles who reputedly applied it to treat soldiers’ wounds during the siege of Troy. Historically Achillea has been used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions including bleeding and abdominal pain, to assisting in the treatment of cardiac conditions, and also as an antiseptic. The leaves of many species are fern-like and aromatic. A. ‘Moonshine’ is a hybrid of A. clypeolata and A. ‘Taygetea’ raised by Alan Bloom in 1954. It reaches approximately 60cm in height and spread, and the flat corymbs of numerous yellow flowers are held aloft grey-green foliage. The plate-like flowerheads of ‘Moonshine’ provide welcome contrast to the erect spires of many summer perennials.