ferguson303,

I see two offerings on eBay for blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta Urticifolia)plants with no bids as yet.

Hope this helps,
Lou

I have never had it come up from seed from my original plants. It will root itself from the lower stems when they touch the ground. My original plants from many years ago got killed this winter in our freeze. I have replaced one with a dwarf variety, not sure it is the butterfly attractor that the standard type was. Skippers loved it and not seeing many of them yet.

I am just starting to see skippers this year. My porterweed did not do well over the winter and I've had to put in a couple new ones - so they aren't very large yet. This plant grows so quickly from a small nursery plant that I wouldn't mess with the seeds. And it only takes one to attract butterflies, sphinx moths and hummingbirds to your garden in droves.

Kate

I too am just starting to see skippers again in my garden. My Porterweeds, red, purple and blue died right back last winter but came back with a vengeance along with many, many new blue Porterweed plants! The red and purple do not seem to have spread.

Thanks for the comments but this still doesn't tell me what I may be doing wrong. Guess I should just trash the seeds and go for some live plants.

our blue porterweed self seeds all over the place, but usually not the first year. i'm continually pulling up small ones sprouting in the yard before i mow and putting them in a safe location. i'd suggest buying a couple and let them go, think you'll see some new ones next year.

They became a weed for me, seeding everywhere, so I took the blue ones out. I do grow the pink, purple and red ones. The purple and red died this winter so I'll replace those. the pink was more protected. The red is a dwarf and I think it is more sensitive as I've had it die before. It is so pretty, I'll grow it as an annual if I have to. :o)

I started mine from cuttings and, as everyone else has said, it suffered badly in the freeze. I have a few but I'm not sure if they came back on the old roots or from seed. Try just scattering some seed late summer and see what happens.

Michael,

The problem is that because it spreads so easily here none of us have ever had to figure out how to grow it from seed. Because if we did, somebody here would be sure to know! It just comes back up in my yard even after freezing dead to the ground.

Melissa

That's funny, Gardencpa. I would give my right arm to have some and sounds like it's a normal thing there. I have tried for several months, every conceivable combination trying to germinate the seeds without any luck. My lastest attempt is wet paper towels in Baby Food jars with a little Root Hormone on the seeds. If this does not work, they all go into the trash and I start searching for some plants. Ever wish to get rid of any, send them my way.

Thanks,
Michael

Michael,

Instead of trashing the seed, try just throwing them out in the yard where you'd like them to grow and see what happens.
Some seeds are best planted directly into the garden. While others really need to started indoors to help the seedling get off to a good start. Some seeds can also take a few months to germinate, this may be one of that type.

Lou

i find the same to be true with milkweed. tried collecting the seeds as they make flight out of the pod and tried to plant them...nothing. let them take flight on their own and i've got hundreds coming up everywhere.