Prince's Feather Seeds (Persicaria orientalis)

Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.
Also known as Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate and Oriental Persicary, this towering, fast-growing, self-seeding annual was first grown in Virginia by Williamsburg's John Custis in 1737.  Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon included it on his 1804 seed list as "Persicaria."  An Asian species, Prince's Feather produces pendulous clusters of bead-like, bright-pink flowers in summer above robust and lush foliage.  The flowers are attractive to pollinators.

Direct sow seeds in the garden in fall for plants the following summer, or provide 3 weeks of cold, moist stratification and direct sow in spring after last frost for blooms the same year.  Approximately 55-60 seeds per packet.