'Walther Funcke' Yarrow
"Onward to the Sacred Wigwam.
There a magic drink they gave him,
Made of Nahma-wusk, the spearmint,
And Wabeno-wusk, the yarrow,
Roots of power, and herbs of healing;
Beat their drums, and shook their rattles;
Chanted singly and in chorus,
Mystic songs like these, they chanted."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(1807-1882)
(1807-1882)
Achillea millefolium'Walther Funcke' is frequently cataloged under mispelled, transmuted, or Englished names like 'Walter Funke' or 'Walter Funker' & other variations. It was bred by Ernst Pagels of Germany, who did not begin developing achilleas until the age of ninety.
Fifteen inch to two-foot stems rise above ferny silvered foliage, sporting flat-topped burnt-orange or brick-red florets with yellow centers, aging to ochre or terracotta.
Before fading the eye widens until it is mostly yellow. Each bloom remains colorful for quite a long time due to the fading period still having interesting pigmentation. It starts blooming late June or in July & with occasional removal of spent flowers will rebloom into autumn.
It's an improved strain of 'Fireland' (aka 'Feuerland'), shorter & far less prone to lodging (falling over) than are the taller varieties of achillea, & with more red than for the similar cultivar 'Terracotta' also developed by Pagels.
Drought hardy when established, heat-hardy in temperate climates, it spreads slowly when in harsh dry ground while booming well. With moderately moist well draining soil it spreads quickly & may need division every third year. Yarrows in general do not want fertilizing, unless a bit of bonemeal or kelp.
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'Royal Tapestry' Burgundy Yarrow