I've been commissioned to design and plant a butterfly border. The space is in full sun, approx 50 feet long with a depth that will vary from 3-6'. I'm going to do 5 color blocks with a small shrub central to each color. I'm stumped for an orange summer flowering shrub. I was thinking Potentilla "Tangerine" but the darned thing flowered a pale yellow instead of the vibrant orange promised by the grower. I'd rather not use a rose because there are small children who actively use the adjacent yard. I could substitute a substantial perenial but it would be competeing with some tall heleniums, guilardas(sp?) and rudbeckias. Does anyone have an inspirational idea for me?
Help please-orange shrub?
The only thing with orange blooms that I can think of is a vine, Mexican Flame Vine. What about Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)? The can get large and bushy and the butterflies LOVE the orange blooms! :-)