Thank you. I will try that.

The only time I started it by seed I winter sowed it and it germinated fine. However it needs darkness to germinate so when the temps started warming up I put the container in a dark place and started checking it every day to see if anything had germinated and that worked.

I have no idea if that's why your winter sown seeds didn't germinate or not. This time I'm starting the seeds inside so we'll see how it goes.

Deanna

Deanna, I think that's why mine didn't come up. I wasn't aware of the fact that they needed darkness. Are you growing yours inside 4" pots and covering it with vermiculite? I might try that this year. Wish me luck!

I sprinkled them around in a carry-out container that had seed starting soil in it and covered it with plastic wrap. I had put holes in the bottom of it so I put it in a one-gallon ziplock bag and put it in the refrigerator for a few weeks. I just took them out yesterday and put the container on top of a heating mat and put something over the top of it so they wouldn't get any light. In four or five days I'll start checking it to see if any have germinated. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

FYI you may or may not be aware that they need to be cold stratified for a few weeks or they won't germinate.

Deanna

Hi Deanna, thanks again for all of the advice. Yes, I'm aware that they need cold stratification. I might grow them in a milk jug, put them outside (its still cold here, of course), make sure to cover them with vermiculite and place the container on our deck, which faces East. Once it gets warmer, I'll move them inside our unheated greenhouse and hope for the best!

When seeds need darkness to germinate, does that mean total darkness or simply absence of direct light? Would it work to put a winter sowing jug under a bench or a tree?

It seems to me that since they self seed readily outdoors where there is plenty of light, that the darkness they need to germinate is provided by a shallow depth of soil covering them.

I seem to have one plant that has come back for several years, but it doesn't seem to be "sowing". I gave a half hearted attempt at starting seed in containers as well

they need cold stratification.

I love these plants but have never had success as has 'gg48' with a direct sowing.

It is a "monitored" species here in western Washington due to the fact that it self seeds so freely. Verbena bonariensis.

Maybe it's a climate thing :-)

I have had it self sow vigorously in dry sandy soil. This year I started some under fluorescent lights, and had germination within two weeks. I didn't have a chance to cold stratify them, but have gotten good results so far. I didn't keep them in the dark, either. So, I'm not sure what recommendations to believe. I have found it easy to grow, no matter what method I try.

Martha

I bought a flat of teenie tiny VB this morning at a small independent nursery. The owner grew them from seed this past winter/spring.

Mine has reseeded itself for years.

Yup. That is the plan. I currently have no VB in my garden and so I am hoping this is the start of yearly occurring VB....gotta begin with one plant.

Yes,so true. I got 3 or 4 plants over 2 decades ago, and it's been with me ever since. Something must have been wrong with the seeds, because the seeds set by my plants have no trouble at all germinating.

UPDATE:

Just today I see that some of them survived this past May's planting. Got my fingers crossed that there is some reseeding.

Rouge, what variety of rudbeckia is that in your first pic? Very pretty.

Hello 'bella'. It is the biennial TRILOBA.

Hi Rouge, thanks! I have that variety as well. It just showed up in my yard one day. Very pretty pic.

They are also very easy to propagate from side shoots. I find them to be quite temperamental when sown in trays of pots (unlike those volunteers which will colonise an area). Anyway, a single plant will easily yield a dozen cuttings without noticing. I just did last minute cuttings of mine (along with scented geraniums.lavender and osteospermums)

Bought some healthy plugs this spring (2019) and they have been in bloom for a couple of weeks now:

Just hoping it goes to seed successfully come the Fall.