Echinacea Artisan 'Soft Orange' is a vibrant seed grown coneflower selection producing warm sunset toned blooms in shades of orange and apricot with overlapping petals and prominent dark cones. The upright plants offer a compact yet sturdy habit with strong stems that resist flopping, making them excellent for fresh cutting or structural color in perennial borders. As blooms age, the petals develop soft rose hues extending ornamental interest well into late summer and fall. Deadheading encourages continuous flowering, while dried seed heads add texture and winter habitat if left standing.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 16 - 20 in
Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained soil
Watering Needs: Moderate; more frequent in prolonged drought
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant due to rough foliage and bitter stems
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from Echinacea purpurea, a species native to central and eastern North America. While not wild collected, it maintains many ecological benefits of its native parent.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Visited by Monarchs, Great Spangled Fritillaries, and Painted Ladies for abundant nectar throughout the summer season.
Bees
- Highly attractive to native bumblebees, carpenter bees, and sweat bees which forage heavily on its pollen rich central cones.
Moths
- Night flying moths such as the Tobacco Budworm and various Noctuids may visit the open blooms in the evening hours.
Birds
- Goldfinches and other small songbirds feed on the seeds from dried flower heads in fall and winter adding seasonal wildlife interest.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 16 - 20 in apart to allow full clump formation without competition from neighboring perennials.
Landscape Placement
- Effective in sunny pollinator beds, mixed borders, and naturalistic plantings. Also suitable for cut flower gardens and informal meadow style designs.
Companion Plants
- Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) - Produces upright purple flower spikes and fragrant foliage that complement the warm tones of Echinacea.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Offers vertical contrast with deep violet blooms and a long flowering window.
- Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) - Provides silvery foliage and early summer bloom that bridges into Echinacea's peak.
- Achillea millefolium 'Terracotta' (Yarrow) - Shares drought tolerance and adds feathery foliage and soft orange bloom clusters.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' (Tickseed) - Adds bright yellow daisies and fine texture at the base of Echinacea clumps.