Marketing Name: Red Feathers

Id-Code: TA 214
Family: Papilionaceae, Leguminosae
Origin: Europe
Special Features: Dozens of plump, decorative, purple-red plumes
Colour: Purple-red
Natural Flowering Period: June - August
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z4-8
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage: Palmate leaves like clover
Height with Flowers: 60 cm (24'')
Spacing between Plants: 45 cm (18'')
Soil Requirements: Well-drained, drought tolerant soils, pH 5.8 - 7.2
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant together in the border with Aquilegia 'William Guiness', Callirhoe bushii and Digitalis thapsii
Specialities: Attracts honey bees and hummingbirds; interesting cut flower

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 Seeds: 2,778
Seeds per Gram: 360
Seeding Recommendation: 7 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 128 or 288
Germination: Rapidly germinating, keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about +20°C [68°F]. Seeds must be covered thinly. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. The germination might be slower and more irregular. This poses no problems.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1 plug per 8/9 cm (3 1/2''); 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2'')
Vernalization: There is no current research on vernalization but a prudent recommendation for any perennial would be 6-12 weeks (a few might need 15 weeks!) at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)