Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Paprika yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Paprika')— schedule & NPK
Also called Paprika yarrow, Common yarrow 'Paprika', Milfoil 'Paprika'.
More about paprika yarrow
About Paprika yarrow
Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' · also called Paprika yarrow, Common yarrow 'Paprika' · flowering
Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' is a vivid red-and-yellow cultivar of common yarrow, producing flat-topped corymbs of small, bright cherry-red florets that fade to golden-yellow with age. Extremely drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and long-blooming from early to late summer. Excellent for pollinators, cutting, and drying. Thrives in lean, well-drained soils in full sun.
Growth habit: Upright, spreading, clump-forming herbaceous perennial with finely divided, feathery, aromatic grey-green foliage (the 'millefolium' — thousand-leaved) and flat-topped flower corymbs on stiff stems
Watch for — Flopping stems: Stems become lax in rich soil, shade, or when overwatered. Avoid fertile soils and ensure full sun. Use grow-through supports if flopping is a problem, or plant in groups where neighbouring plants provide mutual support.
What fertiliser paprika yarrow actually wants — and why
Paprika yarrow is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for paprika yarrow: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed paprika yarrow, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For paprika yarrow:
Do not fertilise in nutrient-rich soils. In very poor or sandy soils, one light application of balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring is acceptable. Excess nitrogen causes floppy, disease-prone plants with fewer flowers. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when paprika yarrow is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for paprika yarrow
Half strength is the safe default for paprika yarrow — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water paprika yarrow first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the paprika yarrow watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding paprika yarrow
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for paprika yarrow:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding paprika yarrow
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full paprika yarrow care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of paprika yarrow with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for paprika yarrow
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising paprika yarrow — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does paprika yarrow need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Paprika yarrow is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed paprika yarrow?
Do not fertilise in nutrient-rich soils. In very poor or sandy soils, one light application of balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring is acceptable. Excess nitrogen causes floppy, disease-prone plants with fewer flowers. Do not fertilise in nutrient-rich soils. In very poor or sandy soils, one light application of balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring is acceptable. Excess nitrogen causes floppy, disease-prone plants with fewer flowers. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for paprika yarrow?
Half strength is the safe default for paprika yarrow — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding paprika yarrow look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding paprika yarrow year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of paprika yarrow?
Flush the pot of paprika yarrow with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Paprika yarrow care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water paprika yarrow — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise lupinus 'chandelier'
- How to fertilise lupinus polyphyllus 'gallery blue'
- How to fertilise lupinus 'manhattan lights'
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library