Seed collection time, like bloom time, differs from native plant to native plant. While I anxiously await each species to bloom as the seasons progress from spring to summer to fall, seed collection follows a similar progression and has been underway since late April here in my southern Maryland gardens. Collections began with Packera aurea (golden ragwort) in late April, followed by Antennaria plantaginifolia (pussytoes) and Carex albicans (white tinged sedge) in May, to Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine) that I collected today before the storm blew through.
Proper timing of seed collection is just one step in ensuring viable seeds. If you’re like me and collect seeds for sharing and sowing, don’t forget that the germination of seeds depends on many factors, including successful pollination; proper seed collection, cleaning, and storage; appropriate “pretreatment” (such as cold moist stratification for some species); and the correct amount of water, oxygen, the correct temperature, and (for some varieties) light. These factors combine to act as the “wake-up” call for the seed to break dormancy and begin growing.
If you are looking for more information and tried-and-true methods to improve your native seed collecting and seed sowing practices, check out our news blogs. Both blogs feature our suggested methods, reference materials, and recordings of our presentations.
Deeply Rooted in Native Seed Collecting (Sept 2024)
Deeply Rooted in Winter Sowing (Dec 2024)
And for more growing methods, check out our Seed College – Deeply Rooted in Native Seed Propagation (Jan 2025) presentation.
✍️M.Smith
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is deeply rooted in native plants and cultivating partnerships, while striving to educate, advocate, and collaborate to connect people and native plants for a healthy planet. Our vision is native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community. Check out our Events page, Google calendar, Facebook, and/or Instagram for our upcoming events. And don’t forget to subscribe to our new YouTube channel and email subscriber list!
