Paprika Yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Paprika')
ah-KILL-lee-ah mil-lih-FOE-lee-um 'Paprika'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Asteraceae Family
Vivid red flower clusters that fade through pink to creamy yellow, held above aromatic, fern-like gray-green foliage. A long summer bloomer that's drought tolerant, deer resistant, and a favorite of butterflies.

'Paprika' is an older German-bred selection of common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), introduced in the 1980s as part of a wave of new European yarrow cultivars; no patent or named breeder has been found for it. It is prized for its vivid red flowers, held in flat clusters that age through pink to a soft creamy yellow over the course of a long bloom season, above dense, aromatic, fern-like gray-green foliage.

Like most forms of common yarrow, it is a vigorous, rhizome-spreading grower that is extremely drought tolerant once established and easiest to keep tidy in full sun and lean, well-drained soil; in rich, moist soil or humid conditions it is prone to flopping and can form a tangled mat of stems by late summer. Cutting plants back after the first flush of bloom encourages a tidier, longer-blooming plant.

Pros

  • Long-blooming, color-changing flowers (red fading through pink to creamy yellow) — excellent for fresh or dried cutting
  • Vigorous, drought-tolerant grower that thrives in poor, lean soil
  • Aromatic, deer- and rabbit-resistant foliage; attracts butterflies and other pollinators
  • Easy to propagate by division or cuttings

Cons

  • Prone to flopping and lodging in rich, moist soil or humid conditions
  • Spreads aggressively by rhizomes and self-seeding; can naturalize into large colonies if left unchecked
  • Susceptible to stem rot, powdery mildew, and rust
  • Toxic if ingested by pets or livestock
Highlights A vigorous, long-blooming selection of common yarrow with vivid red flowers that age through pink to creamy yellow over aromatic, gray-green foliage — drought tolerant, deer-resistant, and a magnet for butterflies.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 36 inches tall. 18 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Prefers dry to medium moisture and good drainage; drought tolerant once established. Avoid consistently wet or waterlogged soil, which increases the risk of root and crown rot.
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 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 June to October
Flower Color Dusty Red fades to Pink
 

Most Popular Plants
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Nepeta, Agastache, Coreopsis, Sedum, and ornamental grasses — companions that share its preference for full sun and lean, well-drained soil.

Photos of This with...

Speedy Sonnet Bronze Snapdragon, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Daylily, Blackcurrant Coral Bells, Ping Pong Phlox, Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac, Color Spires Crystal Blue Sage, Big Ears Lamb's Ear, Nettle-Leaved Mullein,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 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!