I've done all sorts of asters, and mums. Works like a charm. You can save seeds, some of the shasta daisies may be hybrids but should produce similar enough seedlings.

Thanks Trudy for you answer. I read somewhere that they were hard to grow from seed but maybe they were not trying the wintersown method. I started in 2008 and am addicted. Tell my DH that I'm not going to do as many containers next year and always end up doing more every year. Was still transplanting in August this year and ended up with some flowers in my garden waiting for me to make a new bed next spring so this winter I'm cutting down, well will see. LOL

I am further up north and it has worked for me. Last year I had an aster flower in its first year. It was just a little stick but it had two blooms. This year, there are about 5 shoots, but it has remained quite small (just about 12 inches) and does not need staking. Only today my garden mum, a peachy/pink, is in bloom in its second year. They are really no-fuss perenials so far. I don't worry about planting out - did some today and will probably finish on Wednesday. It's been raining all week which I find ideal weather for planting out.

That's a good question hibiscusfan.. I've often wondered if the mums they sell everywhere this time of year had viable seeds and/or if they'd even come back as perennials. So often at the big box stores if you question them about the specifics of plants they look at you like you're speaking a whole 'nother language! lol

Mums always come back at my house - we dig them up and divide them like any other perennial. I don't think I have ever paid attention to whether or not they had seeds...perhaps I will go take a look today.