Achillea Rubra Red

Achillea millefolium 'Rubra' Red Yarrow 'Rubra'

Clusters of tiny, velvety flowers in rich shades of ruby-red and deep cerise, ageing to soft terracotta and vintage pink as the season turns — 'Rubra' is the achillea that brings warmth and depth to a planting scheme that lighter pastels simply cannot match.

This is the achillea you reach for when the border feels a bit too cool. Above a clump of feathery, silver-green aromatic foliage, 'Rubra' carries flat-topped flower plates in the deepest red the genus produces — and as the flowers age under the summer sun, they fade gradually through terracotta to dusty antique pink, giving the plant several visual lives in a single season. Drought-tolerant once established, virtually pest- and disease-free, and one of the easiest hardy perennials you can grow from seed. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised, and a long-time favourite for both fresh cutting and drying.

A note on growing

Surface-sow indoors from February to April. Achillea seeds need light to germinate — press the tiny seeds onto moist compost and don't bury them. Keep at 18–20°C; germination takes two to three weeks. Plant out into full sun after the last frost. Like most millefolium yarrows, 'Rubra' prefers lean, well-drained soil and will sulk in heavy, wet ground. It's genuinely happy in gravel gardens and tricky dry spots where richer borders defeat most plants. First year sees establishment; year two delivers the full display.

Where it shines

In cottage borders that need warming up, in gravel gardens where drought-tolerance matters, and in any cutting patch that wants reliable summer colour. The ageing colours make 'Rubra' particularly valuable for naturalistic planting schemes where soft transitions between tones matter more than uniform display. As a dried flower, the deeper reds hold their colour better than the older fading flowers, so harvest mixed stems for the most interesting dried arrangements.

Plant alongside

Pair with the gold of Achillea 'Cloth of Gold' for warm summer harmony, or balance the warm reds with cool blues — Larkspur, Cornflower, or Salvia are all excellent companions. For a richer, deeper border, combine with the cerise plates of Achillea 'Cerise Queen' and the white clouds of 'Ballerina'.

A note on safety: achillea foliage can occasionally cause mild skin irritation in sensitive people, particularly in strong sunlight. It's worth wearing gloves when cutting back large clumps.