Michaela, sorry if I am a bit confused. Both of which you list could be considered perennials in your zone, depending on cultivar. So if the pot was protected from freeze thaw, like moved to a very shady spot and even tipped on its side you probably wouldn't have to worry about reseeding. The plant will come back next, probably with seedlings from dropped seeds!

Regarding the seeds of both species, if what I think you are calling each, should have germination from dropped seeds next spring.

A lot of seeds actually need a dormancy and/or a cold period to germinate properly.

I hope this answers your questions...if not please clarify for us.

SCG

Hi there. Thanks for the response. Lemon Mint Monarda is an annual here, but I was told it would reseeds readily. I know a lot of the other monardas are perennials here in zone 5, but that one is treated as an annual.

Confused on Bachelor Buttons being hardy here, I have never seen that. They're always labeled as annuals. The two bachelor buttons I'm growing is Blue Boy & Black Magic.

My question is, when they reseed, can the seeds get too cold being in a pot that is exposed to extreme cold? I am not going to be moving these pots. If they will not reseed in pots without moving the pots and protecting them, I will plant annuals in them every spring that don't reseed and grow the annuals I've mentioned in the garden and let them reseed there.

Michaela, thanks for clarifying. Around here both seem to have many plants under those names.

IMHO, if they will reseed in the ground they are more than likely to reseed in the pots.

If I was wanting those plants every year I would be collecting seed and either starting indoors in the spring or winter sowing them. Both have higher chances of success and I am not saying self seeding will be low.

Here, one has to watch the plants you list as they can be a tad aggressive in their 'volunteers'.

Good luck

SCG

a simple question ... why are you growing them in pots ...

what you are basically asking.. is the pot large enough for floating seed to hit the surface.. who knows???

finches go after my BB ... and i dont know if they are neat enough to allow the seed to fall directly down ... but whatever hits the ground... does winter over in MI ...

i wasnt aware of an annual monarda.. nor growing them from seed ...

regardless of it all ... why cant you hand pick what see you need???

ken

Thank you SCG!

Ken. Here is the monarda I'm talking about.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/301/#b

BTW .. you need to start using latin names....

as there is the perennial BB .. scabiosa [sp]

and the annual cornflower .... Centaurea cyanus

and they are wildly divergent in many aspects ....

otherwise ... its near impossible for us or google to give SPECIFIC pertinent info .. based on common names that cover multiple diverse plants ...

ken

Ken. I am not talking about Scabiosa. I am referring to annual bachelor buttons called Blue Boy & Black Magic. I thought it was clear I was referring to the annuals since I posted this on the annual forum... anyways, I think SCG answered my question. I was only concerned with the effects of severe cold in pots on the seeds overwinter.

Hehe, Ken is kind'a sort'a right, like normal lol.

I decided not to get into the annual/perennial battle since it usually isn't worth it as both are listed both ways on the internet under the same broad names.

Monarda citriodora is actually native to most of the USA so still should be hardy for you as a perennial. Then again try to kill anything in the Lamiaceae family...lol

Ken brings up in a different way exactly why I was suggesting collecting and winter sowing seeds. There are so many things that can go wrong in nature that to the have the best chance of success you want to protect the seeds, not let them float around in a frozen pot on a warm spring day or let the native birds have a field day.

Good luck

SCG

Michaela, I'd estimate that most of the plant brought up for discussion in this forum are tender perennials USED AS annuals. It can get confusing.

Martha thank you! They have very unique blooms, I can see what you mean about Dr. Seuss-like. I have 7 sprouted so far inside, am looking forward to them.