Yarrow is such a charming and nostalgic plant to grow in the garden. I love the vintage look of those umbels of tiny, perfectly formed flowers, and the fernlike foliage adds a lot of airy texture to garden beds. A member of the Asteraceae family, yarrow is edible, beloved by pollinators, and relatively resistant to pests and diseases.
Commonly found in shades of white and yellow but available in a wide array of colors, yarrow is an attractive, low-maintenance plant that practically grows itself. It easily colonizes, forming large swaths of dainty flowers and feathery leaves. In addition to its beauty in the garden, it makes an excellent cut flower with a long vase life.
Yarrow is a very versatile plant that is easy to propagate and transplant. It grows very well in containers as well, as it likes good drainage. It is an easy potted plant to care for, with excellent drought resistance. This wildflower stands up well to pollution, so it works well in a more urban setting. Here are 15 of my favorite varieties of yarrow.
Red Velvet
The flowers of this plant boast a vibrant red hue with distinctive yellow centers.
| botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Red Velvet’ | |
 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | height 30” |
 | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Starting off the list is a variety of yarrows that I enjoy so much in my own garden. I love to see this plant start to bloom in the spring with its jaunty and nostalgic umbels of velvety red flowers. Tightly clustered and profuse, ‘Red Velvet’s’ flowers are bright red with distinctive yellow centers. Unlike some varieties, this red color does not fade with time, and flowers are long-lasting.
‘Red Velvet’ has pretty and aromatic foliage that provides textural interest in a cut flower arrangement. It is also virtually disease-proof. Yarrow begins blooming in the spring and will continue to bloom for months if proper care is taken. Give your yarrow full sun in the spring, and offer it some protection in the afternoon when the summer heat sets in.
Coronation Gold
This yarrow has been honored with the RHS Award of Garden Merit, showcasing its exceptional qualities.
 | botanical name Achillea filipendulina ‘Coronation Gold’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
This award-winning variety was named for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ‘Coronation Gold’ is very low-maintenance and hardy, standing up excellently to heat and dry weather. The dense umbels of golden flowers stand tall in the garden at up to three feet tall and provide plenty of food for local pollinators.
Coronation Gold is a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. You can neglect this plant terribly, and it will still look attractive and bloom freely. Give this yarrow a spot in the sun with well-draining soil, and watch the magic happen. This is a flower fit for a queen!
Sassy Summer Taffy
To ensure continuous blooming throughout the summer, regularly deadhead your Sassy Summer Taffy.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Sassy Summer Taffy’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 26”-32” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Perfect for dressing up borders and rock gardens, ‘Sassy Summer Taffy’ is a mid-sized plant with very large umbels on strong and sturdy stems. The flowers begin a deep salmon color and gradually fade to light pink. The resulting appearance is that of a wide array of shades on the same plant and even on the same stem. Butterflies will flock to this pretty, pink variety of yarrow.
Deadhead your ‘Sassy Summer Taffy’ to keep the blooms coming all summer long.
New Vintage Violet
Perfect for border or container gardens due to its small size, this plant attracts numerous pollinators.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘New Vintage Violet’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 12”-14” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘New Vintage Violet’ is a compact yarrow variety with great heat tolerance and can bloom into the fall months, making this an extra-long bloomer. Flowers are an eye-catching shade of pinkish-purple with ivory centers, and they retain their vivid color for a long period. The small size of this plant makes it perfect for a border or container garden.
You will attract plenty of pollinators with this sweet yarrow in the garden. The grey-green, fernlike foliage is light and airy and unappealing to deer and rabbits.
Sassy Summer Sunset
The plant’s delicate blue-green foliage emerges from robust and sturdy stems.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Sassy Summer Sunset’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
If you want a taller and more stately variety of yarrow, ‘Sassy Summer Sunset’ grows up to three feet tall and produces extra-large flower umbels. The individual flowers are bicolored with deep orange and yellow petals and yellow centers. From a distance, the umbels appear to have a golden glow.
The blue-green foliage is delicate but grows from strong, sturdy stems. ‘Sassy Summer Sunset’ makes a wonderful focal point as a mass planting and works beautifully in the cottage garden. Layers of glowing flower umbels make this a great textural and dimensional element.
Paprika
For optimal growth, plant yarrow in a well-draining location with coarse soil.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
‘Paprika’ is a mid-sized yarrow variety, reaching up to two feet tall over the season. The flowers open a deep shade of red with yellow centers. However, unlike ‘Red Velvet’, these flowers don’t retain their color. Instead, they fade to pale pink and, ultimately, ivory as they age. The resulting layers of color make this an extra eye-catching variety to have in the garden.
Yarrow plants are drought tolerant once they are established, and too much water will lead to floppy stems and leggy growth. Plant your yarrow in a very well-draining location in the garden. Coarse soil, either a slightly sandy or rocky soil, will keep this plant happy. ‘Paprika’ will show off its boldest colors when planted in full sun.
Desert Eve Terracotta
To witness butterflies gracefully adorning your flowerbeds, this plant is the perfect choice.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Desert Eve Terracotta’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 16”-20” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Terracotta is having a moment, and I’m here for it. This soft, rich shade of clay orange is soothing and earthy, and it seems to go with everything! ‘Desert Eve Terracotta’ yarrow is a big blooming with gorgeous color. The blooms are pale orange streaked with deep rust and yellow accents. For a monochromatic combination, this more compact variety would look endlessly classy in a terracotta pot.
Its moderate height makes this yarrow versatile. It looks great as a border to support larger plants or a mid-ground plant in a smaller footprint. If you are building a meadow garden, this is a must-have.
The umbels, in their soft but glowing shade of orange, have a unique appearance and add something really special among other wildflowers. If you want to see butterflies dancing about your flowerbeds, ‘Desert Eve Terracotta’ is a wonderful way to make it happen.
Firefly Peach Sky
The unique peachy orange hue of the flowers gradually fades with age.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Firefly Peach Sky’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Gorgeous ‘Firefly Peach Sky’ is a tall, billowy yarrow that is perfect for a meadow garden vibe. The long stems sway nicely in a breeze, sending delicate umbels of flowers bobbing back and forth. The peachy orange shade of the flowers is unique and fades slightly as they age, which adds another beautiful element to this yarrow’s appearance.
The signature fernlike foliage looks really wonderful mixed in with tall grasses or other larger-leafed flowering plants. After ‘Firefly Peach Sky’ has its first bloom, cut the plant back hard to increase branching and plant density. Deadheading yarrow helps the plant produce more flowers, so don’t ever feel bad about trimming this plant to add to a floral arrangement.
Appleblossom
With consistent deadheading, Appleblossom can bloom for up to five months.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Appleblossom’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
‘Appleblossom’ is a long-blooming variety that shares a color-changing habit with a handful of other varieties. The rather large and full umbels of flowers start out pink and fade to white, with many shades appearing on the plant simultaneously. If you deadhead this variety consistently, it can flower for up to five months, from early summer to early fall.
This is a more compact variety that makes a stunning border or container plant. Not only does yarrow make a beautiful cut flower, it also dries very nicely and is great for use in dried arrangements.
Firefly Diamond
The cream-colored centers of the flowers contribute to a lacey overall appearance.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium ‘Firefly Diamond’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
If you love Queen Anne’s Lace and Ammi, this variety of yarrow has a very similar vibe and plays a similar role in the garden. It is, however, longer blooming, which is a great quality. A profusion of creamy white flower umbels top off the blue-green, feathery foliage of ‘Firefly Diamond’.
This variety makes an excellent filler flower, as it works well with flowers of any color. Even the center of the flowers is cream-colored, giving the umbels a lacey appearance. This is a tall, upright variety with long, strong stems that are fantastic for cutting.
Peter Cottontail
This yarrow has flowers spaced farther apart on tall, thin, branching stems.
| | botanical name Achillea ptarmica ‘Peter Cottontail’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
This ptarmica variety has a look that is unique to our list. The flower formation for this plant is different from other species, as the flowers are larger and the umbels are looser. ‘Peter Cottontail’ bears a strong resemblance to Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila), with flowers that are spaced farther apart and stand on tall, thin, branching stems.
Peter Cottontail has different foliage as well. Rather than the fern or featherlike foliage of millefolium varieties, this one has finer, more lanceolate leaves climbing the slender stems. Also known as Sneezewort, ‘Peter Cottontail’ is a wonderful filler in floral arrangements and a perfect addition to any cottage garden.
Moonshine
The mid-sized nature of this variety makes it versatile for various spaces.
| | botanical name Achillea ‘Moonshine’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Moonshine is another special yarrow on our list and another winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. This variety has evergreen foliage and excellent cold tolerance. Its wonderful feathery, bright green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for brilliant golden umbels that grow atop tall, slender stems.
The evergreen nature of this variety means that it blooms earlier in the year, with flowers popping up in late spring and blooming through the summer. Moonshine dries beautifully, with its richly pigmented flowers retaining much of their color and drying to a mellow golden mustard color. This is a mid-sized variety, so it works in a wide variety of spaces.
Love Parade
Despite its lively and compact nature, this plant is highly heat tolerant.
| | botanical name Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
This yarrow is native to Siberia and has a lower cold tolerance than some other types. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful plant with the most charming flowers. The glossy foliage is similar to that of ‘Peter Cottontail’. Thin, lanceolate leaves grow up strong, slender stems. I find the flowers in this variety to be exceptionally charming with a touch of nostalgia.
‘Love Parade’ has slightly looser umbels of flowers, and the small flowers are soft pink with yellow centers. The pink color fades over time, creating a multi-colored appearance. This lively little plant is compact and very heat tolerant. Sadly, this species is toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of your precious fur babies.
Cloth of Gold
This stately yarrow is recognized for its exceptional heat and drought tolerance.
| | botanical name Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3’-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
This cousin of ‘Coronation Gold’ is the tallest on our list, growing up to four feet tall in a season. Also, like its golden relative, ‘Cloth of Gold ‘is a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, a prestigious honor given to the loveliest of garden plants. This pretty fern leaf yarrow is exceptionally heat and drought-tolerant and makes an excellent cut or dried flower.
‘Cloth of Gold’ has dense, convex umbels of bright yellow flowers that bloom atop tall, thin stems. The top portions of the stems are leafless, so the flowers are very prominent at the top of this stately yarrow. This species has foliage that is aromatic when crushed and is semi-evergreen.
Summerwine
The vibrant deep red flowers of this variety transition to a soft pale pink as they age.
| | botanical name Achillea ‘Summerwine’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Rounding out our list is ‘Summerwine’, a wonderful yarrow with delicate, feathery foliage and deep, wine-red flowers. This is a later bloomer, so it begins in summer and blooms into the fall months. The deep red blossoms fade to pale pink as they age for that striking multi-tonal look that we love in a yarrow variety.
This mid-sized yarrow has all of the best qualities of the genus, from color-changing flowers to fernlike foliage and excellent pest resistance. These cabernet-colored blooms will have butterflies hanging around the garden all day.
Final Thoughts
Yarrow is such a hardy and versatile plant. It looks great in cottages, meadows, or prairie gardens, but it also has a distinct space in the pollinator garden, as well. These pretty perennials spread by rhizomes and colonize easily, making them a great plant for filling spaces with color. They make wonderful cut flowers and dried flowers and stand up excellently to heat and drought.
