Achillea Millefolium Paprika (Galaxy Series) [Yarrow Paprika] The plant that just keeps on giving…

Galaxy Series Achillea are hybrids that have stronger stems (more suitable for cutting & there is a huge drive to use British / homegrown), larger flower corymbs & vibrant flower colours that often change as they mature.

Although many people often refer to Achilleas as umbellifers, this isn’t actually the case botanically, they are Corymbs - a flower cluster that forms a flat or slightly convex head by the lower stalks being proportionately longer.

Whereas an umbellifer is a flower cluster in which stalks of nearly equal length sprout from a common centre & form a flat or curved surface, such as parsley. If it helps, maybe think of when you go to a hairdresser & they pull up the hair (stalks) to layer it to create different hairstyles.

Anyway, back to the fun stuff…

I bought this striking mat-forming, hardy perennial from Reighton Nurseries 12/5/25. Although I only bought one pot, as with many plants I buy from there, I was able to split it immediately into 3 clumps, so it is dotted along the border. It grows to about 65cm in height & has ferny, grey-green basal leaves. (Leaves that grow at the base of a plant’s stem).

The vibrant ruby-red flowers that fade to pale pinkish / mustard yellow remind me of coral reefs, I can spend ages looking at the intricate squiggles & often sit on the raised bed for a coffee break where they’re planted. Possibly because there’s always something going on, it’s such a busy fuelling station as they are so nectar rich, these plants; it’s a sunny spot because they appreciate full sun & the change in colour is fascinating too.

They’re drought tolerant; slug & rabbit resistant; much loved by pollinators: bees, hoverflies, butterflies & erm…ladybirds

These are probably laying eggs as Achillea are known to attract aphids & although they’re not particularly apparent on this plant ladybirds will lay their eggs where the larvae will have a likely food source. The petals are also very close together & this provides more protection (they like to lay eggs on the underside of leaves/petals for protection from the elements: sun/wind/rain/predators).

I do sometimes have ladybird larvae on my willow, but these are mostly Harlequin ladybirds which are an invasive, non-native species first recorded in the UK in 2004 (originating from Asia).

Have you got anything out of the Achillea Galaxy Range? I’d love to know

@just.me.in.my.garden