Yah Toots, I'd say if they haven't come up by now there goners or stubborn.

Sure direct sowing will work too, but I think you better jump on the Winter Sowing bandwagon with all us crazies next year, you will get amazing results!

Don't throw your containers in the composter, dump in part of the garden with tag of course and keep an close eye on them, you never know, like I said they could be stubborn and surprise you later in the season or next spring ;)

Sharon

Ya, I think I'll take your advice Sharon, and dump them in the garden somewhere. And I'll save the rest of my seed for WS! :^) I do love them!

Has anyone in Zone 0 to 2 had any luck with perennial Rudbeckias?

Toots

The only species that I have any luck overwintering as a perennial is R. hirta Gloriosa Daisy, this one also self-seeds like crazy making new babies each year.

Some winters are better than others for R. hirta ÂIndian SummerÂ. To my surprise many came back this year. Given that there is no guarantee of this one coming back every year, I therefore start 1 flat of ÂISÂ indoors just in case.

No signs of any of the 3 R. triloba's that I planted last year, I'm so disappointed because they were so beautiful last fall.

No luck with R. fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' either ;(

Sharon

Sharon my R. fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' has now been through two winters no problem. I wonder why yours don't make it. I have it planted in a south facing bed and it's gorgeous every year. That's not good to hear about the R. triloba as I bought one this year. Maybe it will overwinter for me too?

Syreeta

So Sharon, when you start your Indian Summer inside do you do anything special?

Maybe I'll try the Gloriosa or Indian Summer for WS, too.

Syreeta, that gives me hope! How were yours started? Transplant, started indoors or direct seeded? Three years ago I did direct seed some Goldsturm and they came up the next year and bloomed the year after that, then never made it through the next winter.

Thanks, Toots

I bought mine from a nursery in what was probably a 4" pot. I'll let you know next year about R. triloba. I do mulch my beds with leaves and straw that is at least 8" thick for the winter.

Syreeta

So Sharon, when you start your Indian Summer inside do you do anything special?

Nope, nothing special, they are very easy to start indoors, I usually start them around the 3rd week of April.

Sharon