I've not grown these from seed, but they are native to the Transvaal region of South Africa, and considered a tropical/tender perennial. Don't think they would be a candidate for WSing. You could, I suppose, start them outside after any danger of frost has passed; I'm guessing they could be sown in April, which would give you blooms by July/August (?).

I have read they can be successfully overwintered inside, so you'd have an early start on next year.

HTH ...

PV

Thanks. I'll start them inside and cross my fingers.

I have started seeds inside many times with pretty good success.

Also, in the fall before the first frost I dig mine up, trim most of the leaves off leaving only the smallest leaves, pot them up and bring them inside for the winter.
Mostly I leave them alone until about Jan. Then I bring them out under lights or a sunny window and let them "wake up".

I have several I've been doing this with for a few years and I always seem to get a bunch of early blooms just in time for Easter. Of course they also continue to bloom through the summer too :)

Dirtbert, are they perennials in the tropics? I'll have to keep that in mind for the fall. Where in the house do you put them? Would they be OK in a basement until Jan. or so?

Caryl

Yup, I keep mine in the basement until January. We have a small room under our front steps, it's all cement and stays pretty cool. They get very little light if any down there. Usually all the leaves will brown and die off, they seem to go dormant. New growth comes back in January when I bring them to a sunny window or put them under lights (and start watering regularily again).

I do water them sparingly after I pot them up, this is usually in early to mid-October. After they get moved down to the basement though I pretty much forget about them until January.

I suspect you could keep them as houseplants, but I am terrible with those so I don't bother trying to keep them green all winter.

I do the same thing with my geraniums (the annual ones-I know they have a different name but I can never remember it!).

Caryl,

I am sure they are perennial in the tropics. Many years I have them overwinter in my zone 9 garden without mulch or special care.
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Thanks for posting the info. on these lovely plants,Dirtbert. I spent many of my formative years in the tropics where they grow as perennials. I had not seen (or even thought) of them for years when I returned to visit my Third grade teacher, and she had a lovely garden of them, all in bloom. I investigated growing them here in Zone 5, but was told by some nursery folk that I would have to start them indoors in January in order to get blooms this far north. But I will keep your info. and give them a try. I would love to be able to have them in a summer bouquet.

Here in my zone, they can be perennials if the winter is dry and not too cold. This year, they all died off in my garden. It's hit or miss. I would say they'd be fine sown outdoors, but only very close to the last frost. They die down in winter, and can return from the roots. But they like fast draining soil that doesn't stay wet. After all the rain we had, that's impossible this year.

My lantana died too. I took cuttings in the fall so I have plenty. I also wintersowed a bunch.