Yarrow (Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica 'Love Parade')
Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica 'Love Parade' Yarrow offers soft pink summer blooms, tolerates drought, and requires low maintenance in full sun.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ is a distinctive, upright, tufted perennial Yarrow valued for its reliability even in challenging, hot, and dry conditions. This cultivar brings soft pink flower clusters to the summer garden, contrasting nicely with its unusually attractive, bright green, leathery foliage. It offers significant aesthetic returns for minimal gardener input, thriving where many other perennials struggle.
Native to Siberia and the Kamchatka Peninsula, this particular form of Yarrow brings a rugged elegance to mixed plantings. Its compact habit and long bloom period, extending from June through September, ensure consistent visual interest throughout the warmest parts of the growing season. Gardeners appreciate the low maintenance required by Achillea sibirica subsp. Camschatica ‘Love Parade’ as it handles lean soils well.
For gardeners seeking drought-tolerant, sun-loving structure, this plant is an excellent choice. Whether massed in borders or used as an accent in cottage gardens, the resilient nature of Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ makes it a powerhouse addition, providing texture and muted color reliably year after year.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2.5 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: June to September
- Bloom Description: Soft pink with yellow stamens
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ in the spring or fall once frost danger has passed. The ideal location provides full sun exposure, as insufficient light encourages weak stems that may flop. This Yarrow performs best in average, well-drained sandy loams, reflecting its cultural preference for lean soils. Ensure excellent drainage; avoid heavy clay soils or locations where water pools, as this severely increases the risk of stem rot.
Maintenance for this tough perennial is minimal, rewarding the gardener with long-lasting performance. Water sparingly once established, as the plants tolerate drought exceptionally well once their root systems are developed. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary; this Yarrow prefers average to lean garden conditions. For extended bloom display, deadhead spent flower heads back to healthy lateral buds throughout the season.
To maintain garden tidiness and potentially encourage a final flush of late blooms, cut the stems back to the basal leaves immediately after the main flowering period concludes. Every three to four years, plants may benefit from division when they become overly crowded, which rejuvenates the clump and provides new stock. Propagation can also be achieved via seed if desired.
Landscape Uses
This resilient Yarrow thrives specifically where conditions are hot, sunny, and possibly overlooked by the watering hose. Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ excels when grouped or massed, creating drifts of soft color in sunny perennial borders or along dry, south-facing edges of the garden. Its upright structure provides excellent vertical contrast against shorter bedding plants.
Consider using this variety in naturalized areas or cottage gardens where its preference for lean soil is met without intervention. Due to its excellent drought tolerance, it pairs beautifully with other dry-loving companions like Sedums, Russian Sage (Perovskia), or hardy ornamental grasses. The soft pink coloration of this specific Yarrow cultivar makes it highly versatile for blending with both cool blues and warm yellows already present in the landscape.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
The genus name Achillea honors the Greek hero Achilles, who supposedly used the plant medicinally. This species, Achillea sibirica subsp. Camschatica ‘Love Parade’, features bright green, almost glossy, saw-toothed, leathery leaves, which are attractive anchors for the plant. The cultivar ‘Love Parade’ specifically produces soft pink flowers complemented by noticeable pale yellow stamens during its long summer bloom cycle.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
Potential disease issues for this Yarrow include occasional outbreaks of stem rot, powdery mildew, and rust, often exacerbated by high humidity or overhead watering. To manage the risk of stem rot, ensure exceptional soil drainage, especially during damp periods. Another consideration is susceptibility to strong summer rainstorms accompanied by high winds, which can physically damage or flatten exposed plantings. If stems become matted or flop, simply cut the entire clump back to the emerging basal leaves immediately to neaten the appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Yarrow suitable for?
Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ is generally suitable for planting across USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Yarrow grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a mature height between 1 and 2.5 feet tall with a spread ranging from 1 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ need?
This specific Yarrow demands full sun to ensure strong, upright stem development and abundant flowering throughout the summer.
When does Yarrow bloom?
The bloom time for Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ is extensive, generally running from June well into September, featuring soft pink flowers with yellow stamens.
Conclusion
The Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ is a standout drought-tolerant perennial offering beautiful, long-lasting soft pink flowers with minimal garden effort. Its exceptional hardiness paired with deer resistance makes this Yarrow a cornerstone for sustainable, sunny borders. Before planting, confirm your site receives full sun and possesses well-draining soil to ensure the best long-term performance from this Siberian native.
Propagation Tips
While this plant is easily spread through division every few years, Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ can also be propagated via seed, which is a straightforward method for increasing your stock. Seed propagation is best done indoors several weeks before the last expected frost or directly sown outdoors once soil temperatures warm appropriately in late spring. Dividing established clumps is recommended if you wish to maintain the exact characteristics of the ‘Love Parade’ cultivar, as seed-grown plants may revert slightly.
Companion Planting
Leverage the sun and drought requirements of this Yarrow by pairing it with other robust, Mediterranean-style perennials. Plants that appreciate sharp drainage and heat, such as Lavender (Lavandula), Salvia, or various ornamental Alliums, make excellent partners. Placing Achillea sibirica subsp. camschatica ‘Love Parade’ near spiky plants adds textural contrast to the flattened corymb flower heads. Ensure companion plants do not require rich, moist soil, as this clashes with the ideal lean media preferred by this Yarrow.
