Karen, same here. I've never had any luck. Daves Garden says to divide the rootball or herbaceous cuttings. I had a piece break off last year and I potted it. It was doing okay for awhile, but never did much in the pot. Maybe better in the ground if it makes it through winter in the greenhouse. Daves also said "easily self sows" but we know that's not really true, right ?

Well, good to know that even an expert seed raiser like yourself finds it tricky!

Yeah, it's odd. I have 2 big clumps of it that overwinter in the ground, bloom their heads off, throw tons of seed--but I haven't gotten seedlings raised. Like you, I took a few cuttings from the base but they didn't really thrive.

I'm wondering if it's an incomplete embryo sort of thing--like roses. Hmm, maybe I'll try chilling them a couple of months in the 'fridge & sow in spring.