Jennifer - I can't grow anything from seed other than weeds... I'm REALLY good at growing weeds. LOLL. Anyways, these plants... the electric blues were rather puny & pathetic last year, let alone when I put them in 2 years ago (2012). I've noticed that it takes penstemons 2-3 years to really get going. For instance, one set of my little pineleaf penstemons were just little bitty 3" container plants when I put them in 4 years ago. Today, each one covers at least 2' in circumference!