Firefly Sunshine is known for holding its bright yellow color through the whole summer without fading to cream. The golden flower heads sit above dark gray-green, feathery foliage, giving a crisp, clean contrast.
The plant grows upright to about 28 to 30 inches and has done well in university trials, including in Michigan. It is easy to grow in lean soil, tolerates drought, salt and heat, and is a favorite of butterflies and bees. Use it in sunny borders, prairie plantings, containers and for fresh or dried arrangements.
What it looks like
Broad, flat-topped clusters 3 to 5 inches across made of tiny florets in bright, clear lemon-gold yellow with slightly deeper golden centers. The clusters form a level layer on straight, upright stems. Foliage is dark gray-green, finely divided and fernlike, forming a dense base. The plant is upright, 28 to 30 inches tall and 24 to 28 inches wide. At peak bloom the plant is topped with evenly spaced golden yellow plates that hold their color.
Growing it with lavender
Firefly Sunshine thrives in the same hot, sunny, well-drained conditions as lavender, and its golden yellow flower heads are a classic, high-contrast partner to purple lavender through midsummer.
Care
Plant in full sun and lean to average, well-drained soil; water regularly the first season, then only during long dry spells. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8. Shear the stems back by about half once the first flush fades to encourage a second round of flowers and keep the clump tidy.
At a glance
-
Botanical name: Achillea
-
Flower color: Bright golden yellow
-
Foliage: Dark gray-green
-
Growth habit: Upright clump
-
Mature size: 28–30 in tall × 24–28 in wide
-
USDA hardiness zones: 3–8
-
Light: full sun
-
Bloom start: Mid-June
-
Peak bloom: Early-July
-
Bloom pattern: Repeat Blooming
-
Deer resistance: Resistant
-
Pollinator value: Excellent
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.