Hi I started my lupins a few days ago, and have sprouts many many sprouts! I was shoked when all the seeds germinated.(I read on a few posts that some folks had difficulty with them)So I wasn't expecting much to happen. What I did was rub the seeds between two sheets of sand paper 10 or so at a time. Then soaked them for 24 hours. Threw them into a container with a bit of dirt then into a bread bag. These were seeds from last falls plants, that I planted in my parents garden around 15 years ago. They were actualy my first perenial, and really hardy plants. Where they are planted is full sun, wind and clay soil, no fertilizer or amendments to the soil and they just keep ona going year after year. No clue as to the variey,(pink and purple flowers. probably russels?) The original plant was bought late season when the garden centers knock down the prices, to get rid of the left overs, so no tags. Amazing I can remember when and where I bought that plant over 15 years ago, but can remember where I put my key's half the time! Im hoping that my newbies will do as well,as their parent plants.!Frogged

In your zone seeds started in the winter do have a chance of blooming the first year but you'd better plan on the second year. With me in zone 10, believe it or not it's an average of 3 years. The brugs so enjoy the year round, frost free weather that they just spend the majority of their time growing taller and taller before they will 'Y' and set buds. That's the reason why I have so many new cultivars being unveiled this year, They're seedlings I started 3 years ago. You really need patience and lot's of love to grow brugs from seed........but it sure is worth it!!

Oh forgot I also have a wild S. juncea too (early Goldenrod) which blooms earlier than the other goldenrods. I like all of them, but think that S. speciosa is the prettiest. Except mine are floppy because they're not in full sun, of which I have very little in this yard. S. nemoralis also likes full sun, but mine is doing okay in part sun. S. caesia is my 2nd favorite, with those pretty purply stems, and it grows in dry shade, a big plus when you have lots of big trees! None of these are super aggressive as they grow in clumps that just get bigger, but don't spread by rhizomes. I have a few deer and the only one they have munched on (that I've noticed) is S. caesia. But they just munch the tips and this one actually does well with some pinching. If you're looking for deer resistance and aggressive spreading, including reseeding, then go for S. canadensis! It's coarse plant though. I think that Solidago gigantea is another large aggressive spreader. Both of those are native to your area too.

Hi Amanda, I am not too sure coming from seed but I think you are looking at 1 to 2 years. I grew my salvia discolor from a tiny cutting and it flowered in a year, it is actually flowering now and has been for the last 8 weeks.It sure is a beauty.Look under the leaf, the underside is white and the stem is white.Lets hope someone else can be more definate for you. Cheers Annette