Achillea Cerise Queen
If you are looking to add a splash of vibrant, jewel-toned colour to your garden, 'Cerise Queen' is a true showstopper. This hardy perennial produces stunning, flat-topped flower heads in a rich shade of deep cherry-pink, each accented by a tiny white centre. One of the loveliest things about this variety is the way the colours change as they age; the flowers gradually fade through soft pastel pink to cream, creating a beautiful multi-tonal effect that looks like you've planted several different varieties in one spot.
Adored for its "plant and forget" nature, 'Cerise Queen' is a cultivated version of our native wildflower yarrow, meaning it has all the toughness of a wild plant but with a much more glamorous floral display. Its feathery, dark green foliage is semi-evergreen, providing attractive ground cover even in the depths of winter. Whether you're filling a sunny border or looking for a reliable cut flower that dries beautifully, this yarrow is an essential worker in the cottage garden that will return to delight you year after year.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is a robust Hardy Herbaceous Perennial. It represents the highest hardiness rating in the British Isles (H7), capable of withstanding temperatures below -20°C. Biologically, it is a quintessential "pioneer" species, adapted to colonise poor soils where it uses its feathery foliage—hence the name millefolium (thousand leaves)—to efficiently capture moisture and prevent evaporation.
The "Jewel-Tone" Profile: This specific cultivar is selected for its high concentration of anthocyanins, resulting in saturated cherry-pink flower plates. As the florets mature, the pigment naturally degrades, providing a multi-tonal sunset display that is essential for naturalistic planting schemes and romantic cottage borders.
Pollinator Haven: As an RHS Plant for Pollinators asset, Achillea is peerless for accessibility. The wide, flat-topped clusters act as "landing pads" for a vast array of British pollinators. It is particularly valued by hoverflies and solitary bees, whose presence provides natural biological pest control, predating on aphids throughout the summer months.
🌱 Growing Guide
Achillea seeds require specific light triggers and consistent warmth to break dormancy and ensure uniform germination.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April, or in September/October to overwinter and develop a deep root system. Surface sow the seeds onto moist, high-quality seed compost and do not cover them; Achillea seeds are photoblastic and require light to trigger germination. Simply press them gently into the surface to ensure contact. Maintain a consistent temperature of 15-20°C. Germination is reliable, typically occurring within 10-14 days.
Where to Plant:
They demand full sun to develop their most intense cherry pigments and thrive in "lean," well-drained soil. Avoid over-fertilising with rich manure, as high nitrogen levels will encourage weak, floppy growth at the expense of the flowers. Space plants 45cm apart to allow for their spreading, mounded habit. They are highly drought-tolerant once established.
Ongoing Care:
Keep the soil moist until established. To maintain a continuous display, remove the faded pink plates; this signals the plant to produce a second wave of blooms in late summer. For a structural winter aesthetic, leave the final flower heads standing; they look spectacular when touched by frost and provide essential shelter for overwintering beneficial insects like ladybirds.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' |
| Common Name | Cherry Pink Yarrow / Milfoil |
| Plant Type | Hardy Herbaceous Perennial |
| Hardiness | H7 (Ultra Hardy - to -20°C) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | 60cm (Mounded & Feathery) |
| Spread | 60cm |
| Spacing | Plant 45cm apart |
| Flowering Period | June to September |
| Perfect For | 🐞 High-Biodiversity Native-Style Gardens ✂️ Durable Cut & Multi-Tonal Dried Flowers ☀️ Hot, Dry & Sun-Drenched Borders 🌿 Drought-Tolerant Low-Maintenance Schemes |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 800 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
The flat, cherry-pink plates of 'Cerise Queen' work spectacularly with focal partners from our available range:
- 🌼 Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum): The "Strawberries & Cream" Duo. A fresh, professional-looking combination. The pure white petals of the Oxeye Daisy act as a visual highlight, making the deep pink cherry tones of the Yarrow truly sing in the summer sunshine.
- 💙 Cornflower 'Blue Ball' : The Meadow Masterpiece. Create a high-energy display by pairing the jewel-toned pink with the electric blue of Cornflowers. The cool indigo tones provide a stunning vertical counterpoint to the horizontal Yarrow plates, creating a professional-grade, wildlife-rich border.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Surface sow in spring or autumn for a summer-long harvest of cherry-pink flower plates that will return faithfully to your borders year after year.
✨ Naturalistic Light Tip
Achillea seeds require light to wake up. Whether sowing indoors or in a greenhouse, ensure you do not cover the tiny seeds with soil. Simply scatter them onto the surface of the moist compost and pat them down firmly to ensure contact.
🏆 Robust Garden Stamina
Known for its stamina and ability to thrive in poor, dry soils, Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is an essential choice for those wanting to create a romantic, low-maintenance garden that provides non-stop cherry-pink interest for the border and local wildlife.
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Description
If you are looking to add a splash of vibrant, jewel-toned colour to your garden, 'Cerise Queen' is a true showstopper. This hardy perennial produces stunning, flat-topped flower heads in a rich shade of deep cherry-pink, each accented by a tiny white centre. One of the loveliest things about this variety is the way the colours change as they age; the flowers gradually fade through soft pastel pink to cream, creating a beautiful multi-tonal effect that looks like you've planted several different varieties in one spot.
Adored for its "plant and forget" nature, 'Cerise Queen' is a cultivated version of our native wildflower yarrow, meaning it has all the toughness of a wild plant but with a much more glamorous floral display. Its feathery, dark green foliage is semi-evergreen, providing attractive ground cover even in the depths of winter. Whether you're filling a sunny border or looking for a reliable cut flower that dries beautifully, this yarrow is an essential worker in the cottage garden that will return to delight you year after year.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is a robust Hardy Herbaceous Perennial. It represents the highest hardiness rating in the British Isles (H7), capable of withstanding temperatures below -20°C. Biologically, it is a quintessential "pioneer" species, adapted to colonise poor soils where it uses its feathery foliage—hence the name millefolium (thousand leaves)—to efficiently capture moisture and prevent evaporation.
The "Jewel-Tone" Profile: This specific cultivar is selected for its high concentration of anthocyanins, resulting in saturated cherry-pink flower plates. As the florets mature, the pigment naturally degrades, providing a multi-tonal sunset display that is essential for naturalistic planting schemes and romantic cottage borders.
Pollinator Haven: As an RHS Plant for Pollinators asset, Achillea is peerless for accessibility. The wide, flat-topped clusters act as "landing pads" for a vast array of British pollinators. It is particularly valued by hoverflies and solitary bees, whose presence provides natural biological pest control, predating on aphids throughout the summer months.
🌱 Growing Guide
Achillea seeds require specific light triggers and consistent warmth to break dormancy and ensure uniform germination.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April, or in September/October to overwinter and develop a deep root system. Surface sow the seeds onto moist, high-quality seed compost and do not cover them; Achillea seeds are photoblastic and require light to trigger germination. Simply press them gently into the surface to ensure contact. Maintain a consistent temperature of 15-20°C. Germination is reliable, typically occurring within 10-14 days.
Where to Plant:
They demand full sun to develop their most intense cherry pigments and thrive in "lean," well-drained soil. Avoid over-fertilising with rich manure, as high nitrogen levels will encourage weak, floppy growth at the expense of the flowers. Space plants 45cm apart to allow for their spreading, mounded habit. They are highly drought-tolerant once established.
Ongoing Care:
Keep the soil moist until established. To maintain a continuous display, remove the faded pink plates; this signals the plant to produce a second wave of blooms in late summer. For a structural winter aesthetic, leave the final flower heads standing; they look spectacular when touched by frost and provide essential shelter for overwintering beneficial insects like ladybirds.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' |
| Common Name | Cherry Pink Yarrow / Milfoil |
| Plant Type | Hardy Herbaceous Perennial |
| Hardiness | H7 (Ultra Hardy - to -20°C) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | 60cm (Mounded & Feathery) |
| Spread | 60cm |
| Spacing | Plant 45cm apart |
| Flowering Period | June to September |
| Perfect For | 🐞 High-Biodiversity Native-Style Gardens ✂️ Durable Cut & Multi-Tonal Dried Flowers ☀️ Hot, Dry & Sun-Drenched Borders 🌿 Drought-Tolerant Low-Maintenance Schemes |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 800 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
The flat, cherry-pink plates of 'Cerise Queen' work spectacularly with focal partners from our available range:
- 🌼 Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum): The "Strawberries & Cream" Duo. A fresh, professional-looking combination. The pure white petals of the Oxeye Daisy act as a visual highlight, making the deep pink cherry tones of the Yarrow truly sing in the summer sunshine.
- 💙 Cornflower 'Blue Ball' : The Meadow Masterpiece. Create a high-energy display by pairing the jewel-toned pink with the electric blue of Cornflowers. The cool indigo tones provide a stunning vertical counterpoint to the horizontal Yarrow plates, creating a professional-grade, wildlife-rich border.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Surface sow in spring or autumn for a summer-long harvest of cherry-pink flower plates that will return faithfully to your borders year after year.
✨ Naturalistic Light Tip
Achillea seeds require light to wake up. Whether sowing indoors or in a greenhouse, ensure you do not cover the tiny seeds with soil. Simply scatter them onto the surface of the moist compost and pat them down firmly to ensure contact.
🏆 Robust Garden Stamina
Known for its stamina and ability to thrive in poor, dry soils, Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is an essential choice for those wanting to create a romantic, low-maintenance garden that provides non-stop cherry-pink interest for the border and local wildlife.
