Echinacea 'Yellow Ombre' is a vibrant cultivar in the Sombrero series, showcasing a gradient of warm golden yellow tones across its petals as they age. The prominent cone center provides architectural interest while drawing pollinators. Strong upright stems and a compact growth habit make it well suited for cutting gardens, mass plantings, or accenting summer borders. The flowers are long lasting, both in bloom and as dried seed heads, and the plant remains tidy without flopping.
Height & Spread: 18 - 22 in x 16 - 20 in
Bloom Time: Mid summer to early fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, average to sandy soil
Watering Needs: Low to moderate; tolerates heat and drought once established
Deer Resistance: Rarely browsed by deer due to rough foliage and cone centers
Native Status
This cultivar is a hybrid derived from Echinacea purpurea, a species native to eastern and central North America. While 'Yellow Ombre' is not a true wild type, it retains many of the ecological benefits of its native lineage.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts Painted Ladies, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and Great Spangled Fritillaries with its large nectar rich blooms.
Bees
- Supports a variety of pollinators including native bumblebees, leafcutter bees, and honeybees throughout its long bloom period.
Moths
- Visited by nocturnal pollinators such as Sphinx moths especially at dusk when the warm yellow tones remain visible.
Birds
- Goldfinches and other seed eating songbirds feed on the coneheads through fall and winter if left standing.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 16 - 20 in apart to allow full clump formation and airflow between plants.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent for pollinator gardens, cutting beds, naturalistic borders, and containers where consistent bloom and compact shape are valued.
Companion Plants
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (Tickseed) - Adds finely textured foliage and soft yellow flowers that echo the tones of 'Yellow Ombre'.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Offers a striking vertical accent and deep purple blooms that contrast with the coneflowers.
- Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) - Attracts pollinators and adds fragrant spiky lavender blooms above aromatic foliage.
- Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black Eyed Susan) - Offers a rich golden yellow bloom that harmonizes in tone and timing with Echinacea.
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) - Brings soft lavender blooms and a spreading habit that balances Echinacea’s upright form.