I have bought a red porterweed half gallon size at the nursery today
We have maybe 5 nights that are near 32 degrees all winter
and warmer days in zone 8

Does anyone grow this and tell me how tall and wide it gets
so I know where to place it in my small flower garden?

Will strawing it at first colder weather in the 30-40 range nights
leaving it on for a few months..
help it winter over as a perennials an then take the straw
off March lst after all cold nights are over?

Looking to hear from you as soon as you can answer.
thanks
sheri

Hi Sheri,

I live in 9b. The zip code for my microclimate is 32212- much warmer than our airport temps. For me, the Dwarf Red Porterweed is essentially an annual despite diligent mulching and covering this plant during cold snaps. After a minimum of 5 years trying, I finally had one make it through a warm winter.It got knocked back hard by the few cold snaps we had but it did come back. I'm fortunate that I work for a nursery and get a 50% discount so it's not a burden for me to buy it as an annual. If that were not the case, I would keep it in a pot set in my garden and bring it onto the screened porch in chilly weather. I can't tell you how big it gets because I've never had one make it through the winter before. HTH.
Maggie

Maggie thank you for replying
I will accept that the red porterweed may die in the mild winter here

I had a problem this year and last year with the tall David Phlox and Frances Shubert and Eva Cullum all of them mildewing
and leaves shriveled in the day time and then came out at night...
I think it is too humid in zone 8 for phlox after trying for many years in part sun here. I have no afternoon sun on the bed
so that was not the problem..
Any thoughts?

I bought disease resistant and they look great till Late June when the temps reach 90 and above and they then look brownish on the stems
and leaves drooping.. and will yellow at the base...

They bloom but they are so ugly and look bad...

How do Coneflowers grow there and salvia bushes and clematis?

Sheri

Hi Maggie!

to ATP!