Echium amoenum (Red Feathers)

An interesting, architectural plant producing vertical russet-red flower spikes that mature to pink, in summer and fall; a short lived perennial that will re-seed; dead head to promote re-bloom; drought tolerant once established; excellent in containers

Red Feathers is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Red Feathers has masses of beautiful spikes of red tubular flowers with pink overtones rising above the foliage from early summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive lavender flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain bluish-green in colour throughout the year.

Red Feathers will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 14 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 3 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

Red Feathers is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.