Peter Cottontail Yarrow (Achillea ptarmica 'Peter Cottontail')
ah-KILL-lee-ah TAR-mih-kah 'Peter Cottontail'

Deciduous Perennial Mounded in the Asteraceae Family
Masses of small, pure white, pom-pom flowers held above tidy mounds of dark green foliage — a compact, long-blooming sneezewort selection that's easy to grow, deer resistant, and a magnet for pollinators.

'Peter Cottontail' is a patented (US Plant Patent PP31,756) selection of sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica), bred by Hans A. Hansen of Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan. It was created in 2014 from a cross between two selections of the older double-white cultivar 'Noblessa,' and patented in 2020. Unlike common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), sneezewort has simple, narrow, lance-shaped leaves rather than finely divided, fern-like foliage.

From late spring into summer, dense clusters of small, button-like, pure white double flowers — reminiscent of baby's breath — cover the plant; per the patent, the flowers are predominantly sterile, so this selection is propagated by division or cuttings rather than seed. Plants form a tidy, dense mound and are easy to grow in average to poor, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, tolerating both drought and some humidity once established.

Pros

  • Long season of small, pure white, double pom-pom flowers — excellent for cutting or drying
  • Neat, dense, mounded habit that stays tidy without much care
  • Easy to grow in average or poor soil; drought tolerant once established
  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant; attracts pollinators and butterflies

Cons

  • Flowers are predominantly sterile, so it won't come true (or at all) from seed — must be propagated by division or cuttings
  • Spreads by rhizomes and can form colonies over time if not divided
  • Watch for aphids, spider mites, powdery mildew, and root rot in poorly-drained soil
Highlights A patented, compact sneezewort selection prized for its long season of pure white, double pom-pom flowers over a tidy, dense mound of dark green foliage — easy to grow, deer-resistant, and a pollinator favorite.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 28 - 30 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Prefers average moisture and good drainage; drought tolerant once established, but appreciates more regular moisture than common yarrow. Avoid poorly-drained or waterlogged soil.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Fast Growth Rate, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Nativar, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Repels Unwanted Insects, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period May to August
Flower Color White
 

Most Popular Plants

Commonly Planted with...

Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Nepeta, Agastache, ornamental grasses, and other Achillea selections — companions that share its preference for full sun and average, well-drained soil.

Photos of This with...

Silver Swirl Centaurea,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 06/21 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!