Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium ‘New Vintage™ Terracotta’

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 4–9)

Size: 12–16" Tall × 12–16" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Upright, Clumping Habit

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Poor or Rocky Soils

Water Needs: Low Water Needs Once Established; Drought Tolerant

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Summer

Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Fertility

Features: Rich Violet-Purple Blooms, Fine-Textured Foliage, Strong Stems, Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly

Uses: Ideal for Borders, Perennial Beds, Pollinator Gardens, Containers, and Cut Flowers

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

See our complete Achillea Growth & Care Guide for full care details.

More About Achillea ‘New Vintage™ Terracotta’

Terracotta was a variety of Achillea (Yarrow) that I didn’t know I needed until I saw it in the ground. It isn’t bright in the traditional sense, and it doesn’t try to compete with bold reds or yellows. Instead, it brings this warm, earthy tone that feels settled and natural—almost like it belongs there already. The flowers open with a soft orange cast, then slowly mellow into coppery, peachy shades as they age, which gives the plant a depth you don’t often get from one-note colors.

I’ve noticed that it plays especially well with plants that have movement or fine texture. Ornamental grasses, silvery foliage, and even softer purples all seem to look better when New Vintage™ Terracotta is nearby. However, what I appreciate most is how well it stays compact. Some Yarrows have a tendency to sprawl or lose their shape halfway through summer, but Terracotta holds a clean, upright form all season. That kind of balance is something I see across the New Vintage™ Series as a whole—consistent color, controlled size, and plants that stay where you put them.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our testing gardens, New Vintage™ Terracotta has proven itself to be steady and low-drama, even through the kind of heat and humidity that make other plants stall or collapse. Once it’s established, it moves through dry stretches without losing its shape or color, and the foliage stays clean rather than thinning or spotting. I’ve watched it hold upright form after heavy rainstorms and long hot weeks when nearby perennials needed intervention. It’s the kind of plant I don’t think about once it’s in the ground—and that’s meant as the highest compliment. I don’t find myself staking it, cutting it back midseason, or wondering whether it’s going to look tired by August.

From a design standpoint, it’s remarkably flexible. I’ve used it in a pollinator-focused planting where it blended naturally, and just as easily in more modern borders where structure matters. In mixed perennial beds, it acts as a quiet connector, helping bridge bold colors and softer tones without pulling attention to itself. The plant never looks loose or chaotic, it keeps a composed, intentional look that works in both relaxed and structured gardens, and that kind of balance is harder to come by than most people realize.

New Vintage™ Terracotta vs. Other Yarrows

Within the New Vintage™ Series, Terracotta sits right between Red and Violet in terms of mood and presence. Compared to New Vintage™ Red, Terracotta feels warmer and more grounded, trading bold punch for a softer, earth-toned richness that blends more easily into mixed plantings. Against New Vintage™ Violet, Terracotta reads brighter and more inviting, while Violet stays cooler and more restrained. Terracotta stands out for how naturally it ties warm and cool palettes together. It’s the option I go for when I want color that feels intentional without becoming the focal point.

Compared to Moonshine, Terracotta brings warmth and depth where Moonshine stays airy and luminous with its soft yellow tones. Moonshine is lighter and more silvery overall, while Terracotta feels richer and more grounded in the garden. Against Peter Cottontail, the contrast is more about form and texture—Peter Cottontail offers soft, button-like white blooms and a looser, cottage-garden feel, while Terracotta stays flatter, bolder, and more structured. Where Peter Cottontail adds whimsy, Terracotta adds cohesion.