Achillea Summer Pastels

• Variety: Summer Pastels
• Latin name: Achillea millefolium 'Summer Pastels'
• Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Flower: Mixed pastels — pink, salmon, lilac, cream, yellow
• Height: 60cm (2ft)
• Spread: 45cm (18in)
• Flowering: June–August
• Hardiness: Fully Hardy (H7)
• Pruning: Cut back after flowering for a second flush; cut to ground in autumn
• RHS AGM: No
• Sold as: Pot-grown plants
• Plant outdoors: Spring or early summer, in well-drained soil
• Delivered: Spring and summer. Collection from Castle Cary also available.

Achillea millefolium 'Summer Pastels' is a seed-raised yarrow producing flat-headed flower corymbs in a soft mixed palette — pink, salmon, lilac, cream, and pale yellow — over feathery grey-green foliage at about 60cm. The colour mix varies from plant to plant, which is part of the appeal for naturalistic planting schemes.

Summer Pastels – A Mixed Palette That Plants Itself

Summer Pastels is not a fixed variety in the way a vegetatively propagated cultivar is — it is a seed-raised selection bred for soft, muted colours, and the individual plants in a batch will differ from one another. Some will be pale pink, others cream or lilac, a few a warm salmon. This is not inconsistency; it is the point. Planted as a group of three or five, Summer Pastels gives you the kind of naturally varied, softly harmonious colour that takes skill to achieve with single-colour varieties, without any effort at all on your part. The flat corymbs appear from June and run into August, and are outstanding for pollinators. Cut back after the first flush for a second, smaller wave in September.

Like all achillea millefolium cultivars, Summer Pastels is drought-tolerant, fully hardy, and happiest in full sun on well-drained or even poor soil. Rich soil produces floppy, over-vigorous growth and diminished flowering. It spreads steadily by rhizomes and can be divided every few years. For a meadow-style border, a gravel garden, or a low-maintenance sunny bed, it is one of the most reliable perennials available at any price.

Companions for Summer Pastels

The soft mixed palette of Summer Pastels works particularly well in naturalistic combinations. Centaurea montana adds blue earlier in the season and its cut-and-come-again habit means it is still producing flowers when Summer Pastels comes into bloom. Love Parade, the single-colour pale pink, makes a coherent pairing that bridges the single-variety and mixed-planting approaches. For vertical contrast, Caradonna salvia provides deep violet spikes that sit beautifully behind the horizontal achillea plates. The ornamental grasses are excellent companions in a naturalistic scheme — their movement and transparency contrast with the solid flat flower heads.

Why Ashridge?

We use peat-free compost and biological pest controls. Summer Pastels is a reliably generous performer — the sort of plant that rewards minimal attention and works in almost any sunny position with reasonable drainage. Every plant is guaranteed. See the full perennial collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Achillea Summer Pastels be the same colour each year?

Each individual plant will return in the same colour it flowered the first year — the variation is between plants, not between years. Self-sown seedlings, however, will vary and may differ from the parent plant. If you want a consistent single colour, choose a named selection like Love Parade instead.

Can I grow Achillea Summer Pastels in a gravel garden?

Yes — gravel gardens with sharp drainage and full sun are ideal. The drought tolerance, low-maintenance habit, and naturalistic mixed palette make Summer Pastels very well suited to gravel planting. It combines well with sedums, salvias, and ornamental grasses in this context.

How do I get a second flush of flowers from Achillea Summer Pastels?

Cut the spent flower stems back to a pair of healthy leaves about halfway down immediately after the first flush fades — usually in late July or early August. New buds form at the leaf axils and a second, smaller flush appears in September. Don't leave the faded heads on the plant as they slow this process.

How long does Achillea Summer Pastels live?

Several years, with some variation depending on soil conditions. On well-drained poor soil it tends to be longer-lived than on rich, heavy ground. Divide the clumps every three or four years in spring — dig up the whole clump, discard the woody centre, and replant the outer portions. This also provides new plants to extend the planting.

Is Achillea Summer Pastels good for cutting?

Yes. Cut stems when the corymbs are fully open, condition in deep water overnight, and they last well in a vase — typically ten days to two weeks. The flat heads also dry very well: cut them at peak and hang upside down in a warm, airy spot. The colours fade somewhat on drying but remain attractive.