Summer Pastels Yarrow Mix (Achillea millefolium 'Summer Pastels')
ah-KILL-lee-ah mil-lih-FOE-lee-um 'Summer Pastels'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Asteraceae Family
A rainbow of pastel yarrow blooms — pink, salmon, yellow, cream, and lavender — on a tough, drought-tolerant, easy-from-seed perennial that thrives in poor soil and full sun.
Summer Pastels is an open-pollinated Achillea millefolium seed strain bred by K. Sahin, Zaden B.V. in the Netherlands and honored with an All-America Selections award in 1990. Unlike single-color yarrow cultivars, each seed-grown plant can open in a different pastel shade — pink, salmon, rose, yellow, cream, lavender, or white — giving mixed plantings a soft, watercolor effect across the bloom season. Foliage is finely divided and fern-like, typical of the species, and the flat-topped flower clusters make reliable, long-lasting cut and dried flowers.

Pros

  • Wide range of pastel flower colors from a single seed packet
  • Extremely drought-tolerant once established
  • Long bloom season, excellent for cutting and drying
  • Attracts butterflies and other pollinators

Cons

  • Individual plant colors aren't predictable from seed
  • Can flop or lodge in overly rich, fertile soil
  • Spreads readily and self-seeds if not deadheaded
Highlights An All-America Selections winner (1990) prized for its unusually wide range of pastel flower colors from a single seed strain — no two plants bloom quite the same.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Drought-tolerant once established; tolerates occasional dryness or brief wet spells but declines in consistently soggy soil.
Zones 3a - 9b (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, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Nativar, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, 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 September
Flower Color Mix of Pink, Salmon, Yellow, Cream, Lavender, and White Pastel Shades
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Ornamental grasses, Russian sage, coneflower, catmint, and other sun-loving perennials that share its tolerance for lean, dry soil.
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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 - 06/04

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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!