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

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Spreading in the Asteraceae Family
Rich, velvety red blooms with unusually good fade-resistance over ferny, aromatic foliage.

'Red Velvet' is a common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) selection grown for its rich, deep red flowers, which multiple retail sources describe as unusually fade-resistant compared to older red yarrow cultivars. No breeder or introduction date was found for this name; a related but distinct patented hybrid, Achillea 'Desred' (US Plant Patent 22,333), explicitly lists 'Red Velvet' as an existing unpatented variety in its own comparison table, confirming this cultivar is not itself patented.

It forms an upright clump of finely cut, aromatic, fern-like foliage and blooms from mid-summer into early fall. It's drought-tolerant once established, tolerant of road salt, and a popular choice for cut-flower gardens for its long-lasting, non-fading color.

Pros

  • Rich, deep red blooms with unusually good fade resistance
  • Deer- and drought-tolerant once established
  • Tolerant of road salt, useful near driveways and walkways
  • Long summer bloom season, good as a fresh or dried cut flower

Cons

  • Not patented, but sources disagree substantially on mature spread (18 in. to 5 ft.) — worth confirming in person
  • Can flop or spread aggressively in rich, moist soil
Highlights Bred for fade resistance — its rich red color holds through the whole bloom season better than older red yarrow varieties, per multiple retail descriptions.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Drought-tolerant once established; prefers dry to medium moisture and good drainage, avoiding rich, consistently wet 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, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried 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 Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Winter Interest, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Mid-Summer to Early Fall
Flower Color Red
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Heuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles', Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hair grass), Stipa species, and Agastache varieties — per Gardenia.net's companion guide for this cultivar.
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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 - 08/27

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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.

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