Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Firefly Peach Sky Yarrow: Tall Peach and Butter Yellow Clouds
Save
Firefly Peach Sky yarrow blooms in light peachy orange with apricot tones, then fades to soft buttery yellow. New and older heads blend together across the plant like the blush on a ripe peach. At 32 to 36 inches, it is one of the taller yarrows, with stiff, upright stems that hold the wide, flat clusters high.
It handles poor soil and dry spells well once established, draws butterflies and bees, and is rarely bothered by deer or rabbits. It is happy in the same sunny, dry, well-drained spots as lavender.
Peach Sky at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Achillea 'Firefly Peach Sky' |
| Flowers | Light peachy orange aging to yellow, clusters 3 to 5 inches |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks early July, repeats after shearing |
| Size | 32 to 36 inches tall, 28 to 32 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; deer and rabbits rarely bother it |
| Cut and dried | Good for both |
Warm tones behind cool lavender
Peach and yellow sit opposite purple on the color wheel, so Peach Sky makes lavender look even more purple. Its height is the other asset. Because it reaches about 3 feet, it works as a back-row plant behind lavender, where its clouds of peach and yellow rise over the lavender mounds rather than crowding them. Midsummer is when the two overlap best.
It also suits prairie and cottage plantings, where it mixes well with grasses, coneflowers and blazing star. Space it so the lavender in front keeps its sun and airflow. Plan rows with the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: lean is better than rich. Rich soil and heavy feeding make the stems lanky and floppy.
- Water: regularly the first season, then only during long dry spells.
- Shearing: cut back by about half after the first flush for a second round of flowers.
- Air flow: in wet, muggy summers, crowded plants can develop mildew; give them room.
- Winter: reliably hardy in Michigan in well-drained soil. Cut spent stems to the basal leaves in fall or spring.
For cutting and drying
Peach Sky's tall, stiff stems make it a long-lasting cut flower, and it dries well. Cut when the clusters are fully open and firm, then hang upside down in a dry, shaded place. A dried bundle of peach and yellow yarrow with lavender is a warm, late-summer arrangement that lasts for months.
Plug tray or bare root
Peach Sky is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, suited to growers and prairie-style plantings, and as a bare root plant for home gardens. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is it taller than other Firefly yarrows?
Yes. At 32 to 36 inches, it is one of the taller yarrows, best toward the middle or back of a border.
Why are my stems flopping?
Usually rich soil or fertilizer. Lean soil keeps the stems sturdy.
Can I eat it?
No. It is an ornamental, not grown for eating.
Share how it went in your field