Thanks for sharing your positive experience @sah_upstate4 (zone 5b - NY)...it gives me new hope.

Yes I had read that FD is a hardier variety....thumbs crossed.

Course I'm not z5, but at the time NWA was considered z6b, I had a clump that I planted when I was in college at my parents house that lasted over 20 years with minimal care. It was finally smothered out by a very robust 'Earnest Markham' clematis. I have seedling K rooferi that I started two years ago that are progressing nicely in my z7 marshland yard (ie not good drainage at all).

I tried a couple of times here - and gave up eventually.

I will likely try it in a container this coming season. It will be an experiment.

It was finally smothered out by a very robust 'Earnest Markham' clematis.

@dbarron, is EM still alive and thriving?

I share your Kniphofia envy. I've tried planting Fire Dance several times here on the 4b/5a line in very sandy soil and they never last more than a winter or two. When they did survive the winter, they barely bloomed.

I don't know...my mother died and my father moved some years ago. At last report, it was.

Sorry @dbarron, I didn't read carefully enough to realize it was very likely long ago that you were referencing.

My only issue with Kniphofia is that the deer are very fond of the flower buds, especially just as they're about to bloom, so I'm often left with "decapitated" stalks right before peak bloom. If I remember to spray them, they get left alone, and 'Flamenco' also re-blooms quite consistently for me throughout the summer, so I usually get a few more "chances"!

Thanks for that @pennlake. Your description doesnt bode well for me. All the more reason to try 'permanently' potting them as an alternative.

Having been zone envious sometimes (yes even here), I am not sure that many plants are worth that kind of effort (especially as we get busier or older). It's harder to maintain plants in pots than in the ground (you know that of course, but I'm really good at stating the obvious).

Of course there's the flip side, you should sell your house and move somewhere warmer.

It's harder to maintain plants in pots than in the ground (you know that of course,

Yup it is.

But sometimes that might be the only option to have such a plant in one's garden. (I have several Japanese Maples that due to lack of ground space and zone pushing must be permanently in containers.)

Right now, fingers crossed, I am still healthy enough that I can 'negotiate' the rigmarole of moving containers in and out of the garage.

(This has helped the last couple of years):

But when the time comes that I can't keep up... in the big scheme of things it wont be a deal breaker l i.e. losing the plant or preferably giving it away.