Achillea Pastel Mixed

Achillea 'Pastel Mixed' Yarrow 'Pastel Mixed'

A painterly tapestry of sun-washed apricot, soft rose, vintage white and gentle lilac — the most romantically coloured achillea available from seed, and the one that most naturally belongs in a cottage garden border where its faded, sun-bleached palette blends into everything around it with effortless grace.

If 'Cerise Queen' is the bold soloist of the achillea world and 'Cloth of Gold' the architectural showman, 'Pastel Mixed' is the watercolour painter — every plant slightly different, the whole drift reading as a single soft, faded haze of warm cottage-garden colour. The mix produces flat-topped flower heads in shades of apricot, peach, dusty rose, cream, soft yellow and pale lilac, often with multiple colours appearing on a single stem as the flowers age. Aromatic, finely-cut foliage. Drought-tolerant. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised. Outstanding for cutting and drying.

A note on growing

Surface-sow indoors from February to April — achillea seed is tiny and needs light to germinate, so don't cover. Press onto moist compost and keep at 18–20°C; expect germination within two to three weeks. Plant out into full sun and well-drained soil after the last frost. Lean, free-draining ground produces stronger plants and better flower colour than rich soil, which encourages floppy growth. First-year plants may flower modestly but quickly come into their own from year two onwards, building into generous clumps.

Where it shines

In sun-baked cottage borders where the soft, faded palette can do its work — pastel achilleas are at their best in plantings that lean romantic rather than vivid, and they read beautifully alongside roses, lavender and silver-leaved perennials. Exceptional as a cut flower with a long vase life, and even better dried — the colours often deepen and warm in the drying process, producing the most beautiful vintage tones for wreaths and everlasting arrangements.

Plant alongside

For a soft romantic scheme, combine with Larkspur in misty lavender, Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) for silver foliage, and Ammi majus for an airy white veil. Avoid pairing with very vivid colours — the pastels lose their charm next to bright primaries.