Wow...that's incredible!! I'm super impressed!

Judi, it is beautiful, but it would be an annual in our true zone 7a. We routinely get down to a couple of days of 9-10F lows most winters. Does it routinely reseed or spread on its own? If something is an annual like some of my Rudbeckia, I want this reseeding. I'm through with annuals, except those whose seed I direct sow like alyssum, orlaya, poppies, calendula and others. But thanks for your beautiful photo and suggestion. Diane

Wow! I'll look it up.

Actually, Diane, I think it would be perennial in your climate. It’s rated as hardy down to zone 7a and I believe it. It shows no damage whatsoever from my cold weather. It hasn’t reseeded in my garden yet. I’ve heard it does little reseeding. Its cousin, Nierembergia Purple Robe reseeds some, but doesn’t take the heat as well as Starry Eyes.

It didn’t turn into this bushy plant in just one season, though. This is its second summer coming up and already so much better than the first!

Alas,"zone 6, pick up sticks". In other words, after a glorious growing season display here, come spring all you have left is dead sticks! It's not going to make it through winter, here! Wish it would, what a stunner, Judi, and blooming right now for you, too! It's too wet and cold over winter to make it in my garden. The closest things are winter hardy geraniums like Rozanne, and Campanula carpatica. There's danger of all short growing, shallow root system perennials of rotting out over winter here.

Moses.

Most sellers say, zone 8 or 7b and 15F is as about as cold as it can take. It's classed as an annual or tender perennial Plants sell for as much as $21 plus shipping. The purple version, which has been around since the early 1940s, and is an award winner is widely available as seed from reliable sellers like Select Seed, but direct sowing is not recommended. Diane

I wonder how well those nurseries even know this plant. They also say it’s deciduous! As I said, mine stayed perfectly evergreen in 13 degrees. And I gave it no protection of any kind.

It is such a adorable flower. I don't know if it would like my climate but I am going to tell my mom about it. She is just North of Phx, AZ. I believe she is a 9b now or some parts of her area are now 10a. She always likes trying new flowers and veggies etc.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out

Can we see it with roses?

I wish I had a nice picture of Starry Eyes with roses, but right now this one is by a very small band rose. Nothing to show there! One of my other plants is in front of The Prince, but neither are blooming much just now. That Starry Eyes plant is younger and just starting to bloom
and The Prince is just now starting to make buds. So, hopefully soon I’ll be able to take some photos of this plant with roses!