Achillea Ballerina

Achillea ptarmica 'Ballerina' Sneezewort 'Ballerina'

Clouds of pure white, double button flowers held on neat, self-supporting stems — 'Ballerina' is the achillea you reach for when you want the romance of gypsophila with the reliability of a hardy perennial.

This is the achillea our customers come back for, and it earns its keep in two places at once: the cottage border, where its froth of white softens the edges of bolder neighbours, and the cutting patch, where its long-lasting stems are the indispensable filler in any garden bouquet. Bred from our native sneezewort, Achillea ptarmica, but selected for a tidier, bushier habit than the wild form, 'Ballerina' is genuinely self-supporting at 40–60cm and shrugs off summer downpours that flatten lesser varieties. The flowers themselves — fully double, ruffled, the size of a small button — sit just above neat dark green foliage from June through to early autumn. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised, and a workhorse in the cutting garden.

A note on growing

Surface-sow indoors from late winter through April, or directly in autumn for first flowers the following summer — achillea is a light-dependent germinator, so don't cover the tiny seeds. Press them into moist, fine compost and keep at 18–20°C. Germination takes 10–14 days. Unlike the more familiar Achillea millefolium which prefers dry, well-drained ground, ptarmica is naturally a plant of damp meadows and tolerates heavier, moisture-retentive soils that would defeat most yarrows. Full sun is best, but it will accept light shade.

Where it shines

In cottage borders, plant in generous drifts of five or seven for the proper cloud-of-white effect — single plants get lost. It's an outstanding cut flower with exceptional vase life, and its compact stems make it equally good for posies and large arrangements. The double white form also dries beautifully, holding its colour and shape for autumn and winter wreaths. For wildlife gardens, the open central florets are accessible to bees, hoverflies and short-tongued pollinators that struggle with more elaborate cultivars.

Plant alongside

For the classic cottage garden look, pair 'Ballerina' with the smoky pink heads of Achillea 'Cerise Queen' for contrast, or plant beside the silvery foliage and shocking magenta of Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria). For an all-white scheme, combine with Cornflower 'Snowman' and Larkspur in cool whites and creams.