James H. Schutte
Family
Asteraceae
Botanical Name
Echinacea 'Art's Pride'( ORANGE MEADOWBRITE™, MEADOWBRITE™ SERIES) PP15090
Plant Common Name
Hybrid Coneflower, Orange Meadowbrite™ Coneflower
General Description
This beautiful clump-forming perennial was the first orange-colored hybrid coneflower and inspired a flood of new colors to the Echinacea palette. The parents of this hybrid, Echinacea purpurea ’Alba’ and Echinacea paradoxa, are North American in origin and naturally inhabit prairies and grasslands. Orange Meadowbright™ was bred by Jim Ault of The Chicago Botanic Garden.
The plants have semi-glossy lance-shaped green leaves that are sparser than those of purple coneflower. The fragrant daisies will bloom from summer to early fall with regular deadheading. They are medium-sized with cantaloupe-colored ray petals that surround a orange-brown conical center. As the flowers age, the cones become larger and more pronounced. When mature, the petals fall leaving the large cones to set seed, which is eaten by wild birds. Many gardeners like the coarse appearance of the dry cones and leave them in place for wildlife and winter interest.
Coneflower is a dependable garden staple that is happiest when planted in sites with full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile garden soil. It self-sows freely and will sometimes flower in the first year from seed. The seedlings can be highly variable, and those of hybrids, like Orange Meadowbright™, will not grow true to seed.
This carefree native is an excellent choice for perennial gardens, mixed borders or wildflower plantings. Coneflowers also attract butterflies, make great long-lasting cutflowers and are not favored by deer.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 2
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 9
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Width
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Hybrid Origin, North America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Orange, Brown
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
