Lobelia hardiness

I have just been lifting plants of dubious hardiness to overwinter in a shed. I have lifted most of my perennial Lobelia. All except Lobelia syphalitica, which is extremely hardy. The lifted plants are L. Queen Victoria, Fan Rose, Fan Burgendy, Fan Blue and Tanya. I get conflicting information about hardiness. The sellers swear full hardiness, and other advise caution.

What do other people do?

 

I researched a little and it doesn't look like lobelia can withstand the cold well. many varieties will dry off as the cold begins.


lobelia erinus>

 

Miraflores - thanks - you learn something new everyday. I was really talking about the tall Lobelias based on Lobelia cardinalis, which are generally called the perennial ones. I have never grown Lobelia erinus, which I always thought of as an annual. I have just Googled it, and you are right it is indeed a tender perennial. I never knew that.

There are a lot of tender perennials that are sold as annuals, and I get confused myself. I have even been in a garden centre, where the staff have emphatically told me that Diascia was an annual, when I suggested it was a tender perennial. You cannot argue, of course, with someone whose mind is made up.

My most recent confusion is over Cleome. I think that every source including the RHS classifies it as an annual. But Piet Oudorf states that it is perennial. I have just potted some up to overwinter under cover to see if they will come back next year.

 

There are a lot of plants in this range, Peter - we all know the usual ones like busy lizzies and begonias, and lots of standard things like the pelargoniums - things that people use as bedding and container plants. The growers tell you "Treat as annual".
I find that quite a useful classification on seeds, though - without specific temperatures or anything like that , it's just an indicator that you need to look after them a bit over winter, then you can have them again year after year.

 

I obviously can testify to a lot of the "annuals" actually being tender perennials. My Lobelia can be a bit "hit and miss" on surviving, usually "miss"! :D However, my Alyssum maritinum done from seed a few years ago is still blooming now as are my begonias.

On the other hand, I have had absolutely no luck with either busy lizzies or petunias!

PeterS, some info I have on Cleome states they are "bushy annuals and short-lived evergreen shrubs" and that they are "marginally frost hardy" but as you know I've so far not had success with them! :(