Echinacea 'Orange Skipper' is a vibrant coneflower cultivar featuring compact growth and glowing orange petals that radiate from a deep copper cone. With sturdy stems and a profusion of blooms, it adds bold summer color to borders and pollinator gardens. Named after the orange skipper butterfly, its flowers persist for weeks and are excellent for cutting while the spent seed heads provide winter texture and interest.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 16 - 20 in
Bloom Time: Early summer to late summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, average to dry soil
Watering Needs: Low; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Generally avoided by deer
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from native North American Echinacea species, selected for its compact size and unique flower coloration. While not wild occurring, it maintains ecological value for native pollinators.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Visited by Monarchs, Painted Ladies, and Great Spangled Fritillaries for nectar throughout the summer.
Bees
- Highly attractive to native bumblebees, long horned bees, and leafcutter bees gathering pollen and nectar.
Moths
- Draws night flying moths including the Primrose Moth which may rest camouflaged within the blooms by day.
Birds
- Goldfinches and other small songbirds feed on the seeds in late summer and fall especially when seed heads are left standing.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 16 - 20 in apart to allow for air circulation and full bloom display within compact borders or mixed pollinator plantings.
Landscape Placement:
- Best suited for sunny borders, meadow style plantings, butterfly gardens, and small urban pollinator beds where long lasting color and ecological value are prioritized.
Companion Plants
- Allium millenium (Ornamental Onion) - Provides rounded purple blooms and grassy foliage that contrast well with Echinacea’s upright form.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' (Threadleaf Coreopsis) - Adds feathery foliage and golden flowers in a compact habit enhancing the orange tones of 'Orange Skipper'.
- Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) - Offers aromatic silver foliage and purple flowers thriving in similar dry sunny conditions.
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) - Attracts a broad range of pollinators and provides contrasting form and lavender bloom color.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Displays striking deep violet spikes and dark stems that contrast with Echinacea’s warm blooms.