How to Grow Achillea
'Cloth of Gold' from Seed
The most architectural achillea you can grow — great plates of rich old-gold yellow on stems up to 120cm, magnificent as a cut flower and one of the finest things in any dried winter arrangement
There is something genuinely magnificent about Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold' in full summer flower. The flowerheads are large — often 13cm or more across — flat-topped plates of rich, deep yellow that holds its intensity through the entire season without fading. The stems are tall and strong, reaching 90–120cm, each one carrying a single great golden disc above a cloud of finely divided, feathery, aromatic foliage. In the border it creates a bold structural statement that few other perennials can match at this height. Cut and dried, it is frankly outstanding — the deep golden colour holds for months, even years, making it one of the most valued plants in the cutting garden.
'Cloth of Gold' is a filipendulina achillea, which makes it quite distinct from the spreading millefolium varieties like Cerise Queen and Rubra Red, and very different again from the ptarmica pompom types like Ballerina and Marshmallow. It is the most upright, the most architectural and the most golden of the achilleas — a plant of real stature that earns its place at the back of a herbaceous border for decades once established.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy Perennial
Sowing Time
Feb–Jun or Sep–Oct
Flowering Months
June – September
Position
Full sun
Height & Spread
90–120cm · 45cm
Difficulty Rating
2 out of 5 — Easy
Understanding the Plant
Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold' is the tall, architectural member of the achillea family — a clump-forming perennial from the Caucasus region that has been grown in British gardens since at least the Victorian era. The species name filipendulina refers to the plant's foliage, which resembles that of Filipendula. The common name yarrow and the genus name both reference the ancient belief that Achilles used the plant to treat the wounds of his soldiers in the Trojan War — yarrow has been used medicinally for thousands of years.
Unlike the spreading millefolium varieties, filipendulina achilleas form upright, non-invasive clumps that grow steadily more impressive year on year without colonising surrounding soil. The foliage is finely divided, feathery and strongly aromatic — deeply pleasantly scented when bruised. The flowers are the defining feature: rigid, flat-topped plates of deep mustard-gold, each composed of hundreds of tiny individual florets, held high on strong stems that rarely need staking in reasonable conditions.
RHS Award of Garden Merit
'Cloth of Gold' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit — awarded in recognition of outstanding ornamental performance, reliability and garden value over many years of assessment. The flat flowerhead structure makes it an exceptional landing platform for pollinators, and the rigid, enduring seed heads provide food for birds and winter structural interest long after the flowers have been cut or faded.
The Colour That Lasts
One of the most remarkable qualities of 'Cloth of Gold' is the persistence of its colour. Fresh flowers are a rich, deep mustard-gold. As they age they soften very slightly but never become washed out or faded — the dried flowerheads, cut at peak colour and hung to dry, retain this warm golden tone for twelve months or more. This makes 'Cloth of Gold' one of the most valuable and most long-lasting elements in the dried flower arranger's repertoire — as beautiful in a February vase as it was in July.
When & How to Sow
'Cloth of Gold' can be sown across a wider window than most perennials — February through June for spring/summer sowing, or September and October for an autumn sowing that overwinters and establishes strongly the following spring. The critical rule, as with all achilleas, is that the seed needs light to germinate and must not be buried.
Sowing Windows
February to April indoors — gives the longest season and the best chance of modest flowers in year one. May to June — direct sowing outdoors once the soil has warmed is perfectly viable. September to October — autumn sowing on a prepared seedbed gives excellent results; seedlings overwinter as small rosettes and establish strongly the following spring for earlier, more generous flowering in year two.
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Fill pots or modules with fine seed compost. Water thoroughly from below before sowing — a moist starting compost means you can avoid overhead watering after sowing, which would wash the tiny surface-sown seeds away.
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Scatter seed on the surface and press gently. Do not cover. The seeds are small but visible — scatter as thinly as possible and press firmly onto the compost surface with a flat hand. Light contact with the compost is essential for good germination.
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Cover with a clear propagator lid. Place at 15–20°C. Germination typically takes 7–14 days but can be somewhat erratic — be patient. Keep the compost consistently moist throughout.
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Prick out once large enough to handle. Seedlings are small and delicate at first. Handle by the leaf and use a dibber to ease roots free. Pot into individual 7cm pots and grow on in a cool, bright position.
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Grow on and harden off. Grow on in good light — avoid warm, dim conditions which produce leggy seedlings. Harden off over two weeks from late April before planting out from May in their final position in well-drained soil in full sun. Space 30–45cm apart.
The characteristic large, rigid flowerheads of 'Cloth of Gold' — deeply golden and long-lasting both fresh and dried.
Second-Year Performance
Like most filipendulina achilleas, 'Cloth of Gold' is primarily a second-year plant from seed. First-year plants establish a strong root system and may produce a few flowering stems, but the full architectural impact — tall, strong stems carrying great golden plates — comes in year two and improves again in year three. Patience in year one is genuinely rewarded, and the plant will then perform reliably for many years without significant decline.
Growing On Tips
Sun & Position
Full sun is essential — 'Cloth of Gold' in shade becomes tall, floppy and flowers poorly. A back-of-border position in full sun produces the strongest stems and the richest colour. South or west-facing aspects are ideal. Shelter from strong winds reduces the need for staking.
Soil & Drainage
Well-drained, average to lean soil produces the best results — as with most achilleas, very rich soil encourages lush leafy growth and weak, floppy stems at the expense of flowers. Avoid waterlogged or heavy clay conditions; improve heavy soils with grit or coarse sand before planting. Drought-tolerant once established.
Staking
In exposed positions or very fertile soils, the tall stems — reaching 90–120cm — may need support. Place brushwood pea sticks or grow-through supports in early spring before stems reach 30cm. In sheltered gardens with lean soil, 'Cloth of Gold' is generally self-supporting. Improving drainage reduces floppy growth significantly.
Deadheading & Cutting Back
Deadhead spent flowerheads promptly to encourage continued stem production. However — resist cutting back entirely in autumn. The architectural seed heads look magnificent in winter light and provide food for seed-eating birds. Cut the whole plant back to basal foliage in late winter or early spring to encourage vigorous fresh growth.
Division
Lift and divide established clumps every three to four years in spring or early autumn to maintain vigour. Filipendulina types are less spreading than millefolium varieties but still benefit from regular division. Each divided section transplants readily and a well-divided clump rejuvenates quickly.
Feeding
No regular feeding is needed — lean conditions produce the strongest, most upright growth and the best flower colour. In very poor soils a light top-dressing of balanced granular fertiliser in spring is sufficient. Avoid nitrogen-rich feeds entirely.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| No germination | Seed covered or too cold | Resow on the surface without any covering. Ensure temperature is 15–20°C consistently. Keep compost moist. Germination can take up to three weeks and is often erratic — patience is key. |
| Floppy stems | Rich soil, too much shade, exposed position | This is the most common problem with tall achilleas. Ensure full sun. Avoid feeding. Place supports in early spring. Improve drainage — waterlogged soil is the leading cause of weak growth. |
| No flowers in year one | Normal first-year establishment | Entirely normal. Focus on establishing a strong plant in year one — it will flower much more generously from year two onwards, and the display improves again in year three. |
| Powdery mildew | Dry at roots, poor airflow | Water at the base. Improve airflow through correct spacing. Remove affected leaves. Most common in late summer — cosmetic rather than damaging in most cases. |
| Crown rot in winter | Waterlogged or heavy soil | Filipendulina types are susceptible to crown rot in wet winter conditions. Improve drainage before planting. Mulch the crown with grit rather than organic matter. Raise the planting level slightly in clay soils. |
| Colour paler than expected | Seed variation or shading | Some colour variation is natural in seed-raised plants. Ensure full sun — shaded plants always produce significantly paler flowers. The richest colour comes from plants in full sun in lean, well-drained soil. |
When to Expect Flowers
Early indoor sowings (February–March) may produce a few flowering stems in their first summer, but modest performance in year one is entirely normal for filipendulina types. The full architectural impact — tall stems, great golden plates — comes in year two and improves again in subsequent years. Autumn-sown plants typically perform particularly well in their first flowering season, having had a full winter to establish. Once settled, 'Cloth of Gold' flowers from June through to September, with the seed heads remaining decorative well into winter.
Winter Interest
Do not rush to cut 'Cloth of Gold' back in autumn. The flat-topped seed heads, holding their structure through frost and wind, are among the finest things in the winter garden — particularly when touched by low winter light or a dusting of frost. They also provide an important food source for seed-eating birds. Cut back to basal foliage in late winter rather than autumn.
Sow from February indoors or September outdoors — established plants flower from their second season with increasing grandeur, providing architectural golden blooms and outstanding dried flowers for months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| 🌱 Sow Indoors |
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| 🪴 Sow Direct |
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| 🌾 Autumn Sow |
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| 🌼 Flowering |
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Cutting & Drying
As a cut and dried flower, 'Cloth of Gold' is in a class of its own within the achillea genus. The large, rigid flowerheads are dramatic and long-lasting in the vase — seven to ten days is typical — and as dried flowers they are simply outstanding. The rich golden colour that the plant wears in summer holds through the drying process with extraordinary faithfulness, and dried stems of 'Cloth of Gold' remain beautiful for twelve months or more.
Cutting Fresh for the Vase
Cut when the flowerheads are fully open and the colour is at its most vivid — deep gold, fully formed plates. Cut early in the morning with long stems to a visible side shoot, and plunge immediately into deep cool water. Condition for several hours in a cool, dark place before arranging. The rigid, flat-topped heads combine beautifully with tall grasses, blue echinops, purple veronicastrum and white gypsophila.
Drying 'Cloth of Gold'
Cut for drying when the flowerheads are fully open and at peak gold — do not wait until they begin to dry on the plant, as this produces a duller, more straw-coloured result. Strip all leaves from the stems, gather in small bunches of six to eight and hang upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated space away from direct light. Cloth of Gold dries in two to three weeks and the resulting warm golden colour holds remarkably well. In dried winter arrangements alongside dried bleached grasses, Briza Maxima, and honesty pods, it is magnificent.
The Gold That Lasts
Of all the flowers that dry well, 'Cloth of Gold' is among the very best for colour retention. The deep mustard-gold softens only very slightly through the drying process and then holds at that warm tone for a year or more in a dark storage space. This makes it an exceptional investment for the cutting garden — one established plant at full performance provides dozens of stems across the season, all of which dry and store beautifully for use throughout the winter months.
Plant Specifications
The golden perennial that earns its place for decades
Once you have grown 'Cloth of Gold' to its full potential — tall stems, great golden plates, a garden full of pollinators and an abundant supply of the finest dried flowers you have ever cut — you will understand why this achillea has been grown in British cottage gardens for over a century. It is genuinely one of the most rewarding perennials available from seed. Our Achillea 'Cloth of Gold' seeds are selected for vigour and strong architectural performance — sow them now and begin building a plant that will reward you for years to come.
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