That's good to know. I tried them a couple of years ago but didn't give them a cold period. I think I'll try winter sowing them this year. How much growth have your plants made so far?

Could they be direct sowed?
If so, when?

That's what I'd like to know, for sure ego45! I'd prefer to direct sow but don't know if it can be done and when.

You can direct sow them outdoors now. You can also just scatter them in the area you want them. Ligularia, when grown in an area with plenty of moisture, can get weedy after a while they are such prolific self-seeders. I still love them, though :)

Thanks Chris! :) I already have 8 monsters...you'd think that'd be enough. LOL This is a more palmate style leaved one I don't have yet though. They just called it Ligularia 'japonica' but it has to be either Prezwelski...or whatever the heck that is spelled..roflol...or the other palmateish one...can't remember the names.

" Prezwelski...or whatever the heck that is spelled.."

Przewalskii. They are species.

"...or the other palmateish one...can't remember the names."

Could be a L.stenocephala "The Rocket"?

Both are narrow-spiked.

I would suggest that you wintersow them in milk cartens with the lids on. That would give you the stratification you need with these, while protecting them from blowing around, getting other seed mixed in, no damping off....

I did it this winter with papaver somniferum, something I've always had trouble direct sowing or sowing indoors and had bumper crops! In fact, I did really well with all my perennials.

It's cheap, it's easy and it doesn't take up a lot of room, plus you do it in January or so when you are looking for something gardeniny to do.

This isn't direct sowing, nor it is sowing inside. While some people can be sort of...ummm...fanatics about it, I have found it an excellent method of getting starts without much bother and I'm far from a fanatic...although I have promised myself to sow far fewer seeds as for the most part, I had really great viability and germination....so I had far too many seeds to plant!

I have about 5 ligularia varieties, including one I've never been able to identify. Ligularia dentata and pryz(whatever) self sow readily, so these would be prime candidates for winter sowing. Hope this helps. Try it! You'll like it!

Here is a link that might be useful: wintersowing faqs

I actually LOST these seeds in the house. LOL I put them in a bag and the bag disappeared until I just found it now!

Do you think I can still grow them or are they goners since they didn't get their cold period?

Stratfying isn't usually needed for ligularia, but do you have a cool room or porch where you could put the seed pots? I have good luck with the sowing recommendations from Druse, suggestions are often for fresh rather than commercial (dried and stored who knows how) seed

Druse, Making More Plants - Sow 55-65 six to eight weeks before last frost, germination in 14 - 40 days and can be erratic (meaning not all seeds will germinate at the same time)

Clothiers, Ligularia hybrids , Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), germination rapid if you get good seed, look for fat ones. poorly filled out seeds will not germinate

Ligularia clivorum, dentata, fischeri, macrophylla, przewalskii, sibirica, stenocephala, veitchiana, and wilsoniana , Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), germination slow