Ward, It only got about 16-18 inches tall ( think 18 inches is max height for this plant. It was grown from seed and started blooming in late June or early July I believe. It bloomed the rest of the summer right up until frost. I did eventually put two of them in the ground and overwintered one inside because I only had 3 and it wasn't supposed to be hardy here. They stayed green at the crown all winter here in the Buffalo/Niagara region buried under the snow. Right now the 2 that were planted in the ground are about 10-12 inches tall. The one I overwintered inside is now in the ground but not growing quite as fast. I think it is trying to establish itself first. Yes my hummers last summer were all over it. Penny

Funny as you show 'Ivory Coast' and 'Majesty' both regestered in 1999. 'Liberty' and 'Clifford's Forest Fire was regestered in 2000. 'Magic Fire' in 2004, all very simular wide edged sports of 'Sagae' 1996. All very good garden worthy plants, and I would say enjoy them all. Look at Daylilies 90,000 regestrations and they all look the same till they flower then everyone atleast looks like another one already there.......I can't have enough of them either. BHG

ruth Anyone who has seen pics of your Liberty would say they are worth covering, and that certainly includes me. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and there will be no need to. My Liberty was in a very sheltered area where the snow remained the longest and it was a first year plant. I think it was unfurling but in that location it was fine. Sagae fared relatively well and since Liberty is a sport of Sagae it will give you an idea. Here is Sagae On June 23 – one month after pretty severe frost. (The one that turned Invincible to total mush)It does not look horrible but it does not look quite right either. If you enlarge the pic you can see some funky leaves (some I tucked in to hide for the pic). Some leaves eaten by deer. This area is somewhat sheltered too by overhanging trees. All in all if I were you I would protect your gorgeous Liberty if frost threatens them once they start to unfurl.

If your top coat is failing and the wood below is coming into contact with cleaning solutions, (the grayish areas) they can contaminate the wood and prevent a good adherence of new top coat, so please get this remedied asap or it could be a much bigger job.