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Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' (Cerise Queen yarrow) care

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'

Also called Cerise Queen yarrow.

RHS H7USDA 3-9Mildly toxic to petsIndoor About 45-75 cm tall and 45-60 cm wide

Watering rhythm

7-14days

When the top few centimeters of soil are dry, about every 7-14 days

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Lean, well-drained soil, tolerating poor and sandy ground

Humidity

30-60%

Temp

-34 to 32°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

About 45-75 cm tall and 45-60 cm wide

Care at a glance

Light

Most houseplants will scorch where achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' thrives. Give it the windowsill you'd otherwise leave empty because everything else burned there. Needs full sun, at least six hours, for upright stems, bright color, and long bloom. In shade it grows leggy, flops, and flowers poorly. A plant moved abruptly from low light to direct sun bleaches in 48 hours — always acclimatise over a week.

Watering

Aim for when the top few centimeters of soil are dry, about every 7-14 days for achillea millefolium 'cerise queen', but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Highly drought-tolerant once established and resents wet soil. Water deeply but infrequently; let the soil dry between waterings and keep it dry over winter.

Soil and pot

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' grows best in lean, well-drained soil, tolerating poor and sandy ground. Best in poor to average free-draining soil with neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Rich, moist soil causes floppy growth and more aggressive spreading; sharp drainage matters most. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' sits happiest at around 30-60% humidity and -34 to 32°C (-30 to 90°F). An adaptable wildflower perennial that prefers dry air and good spacing; humid, congested plantings are prone to powdery mildew. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' sparingly. Light feeder needing little or no fertiliser. One light spring feed only on very poor soil. Over-feeding produces lax stems, fewer flowers, and faster spread. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Aggressive spreading — Rhizomes can colonize beds, especially in rich soil; site where it can roam or divide and pull runners to contain it.
  • Flopping stems — Shade, wet, or fertile soil make stems lax; grow lean and sunny, and shear after the first flush for sturdier rebloom.
  • Color fading — Cerise flowers naturally pale to pinkish-white as they age and in strong heat; deadhead for fresher color and tidier plants.
  • Powdery mildew — White film appears in humid, crowded conditions; improve airflow and spacing and avoid overhead watering.

Propagation

Propagated easily by spring or autumn division, by basal cuttings in spring, or from seed, though seedlings vary and may not match the parent's color exactly. Division also curbs its spreading habit. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is mildly toxic to pets. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is ASPCA-listed as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, causing increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, and dermatitis from achilleine and related compounds; this cultivar is the species itself and should be treated as toxic to pets. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'?

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is most commonly called Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen', but it is also known as Cerise Queen yarrow. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' apply identically to anything sold as Cerise Queen yarrow.

How much light does achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' need?

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Needs full sun, at least six hours, for upright stems, bright color, and long bloom. In shade it grows leggy, flops, and flowers poorly.

How often should I water achillea millefolium 'cerise queen'?

Water achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' when the top few centimeters of soil are dry, about every 7-14 days. Highly drought-tolerant once established and resents wet soil. Water deeply but infrequently; let the soil dry between waterings and keep it dry over winter. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' toxic to cats and dogs?

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is mildly toxic to pets. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is ASPCA-listed as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, causing increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, and dermatitis from achilleine and related compounds; this cultivar is the species itself and should be treated as toxic to pets.

What USDA hardiness zone does achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' grow in?

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is rated for USDA zone 3-9 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of achillea millefolium 'cerise queen' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' is also commonly called Cerise Queen yarrow.