Collecting Native Seed

Wild Chicory along Katy Trail

Wildflowers along roadsides really start to show their colors this time of year. Their beauty and unique qualities make some wish to pick the flowers to take home. Wildflowers should not be cut or dug up from roadsides and other public places. For one thing, you are stealing the beauty of our natural world for others to enjoy. Another great reason not to dig or cut wild plants from public land is that doing so is against the law! 

Coreopsis

So how are you supposed to get those spring beauties, coneflowers, and coreopsis growing in your garden or in your fields? Missouri does have several seed dealers that specialize in native Missouri flower and grass species. Some are grown from seed from our neighboring states, while others are seed sourced right here in Missouri, adapted to our erratic weather! For those more thrifty plant lovers, seed collecting from private land is an acceptable method of moving wildflowers to your place! 

Indian Paintbrush

Wild Bergamot along Frisco Highline Trail

On private land you will need to ask for landowner permission before you start. Collecting from public land is normally a bad idea. The Missouri Department of Conservation will let you collect small amounts of seed on their Conservation Areas that they own if you submit a Letter of Authorization for Plant Collection first. You are not allowed to collect seed from their Conservation Areas that are tied to a Nature Center, such as Powder Valley in St. Louis or the Cape Girardeau Nature Center. What you take must be for your own use and cannot be sold, same as their rules for nut, berry or mushroom collection. The Missouri State Parks only allow seed collection with written permission from the state Director. When in doubt about gathering seed on public land, best to not attempt a collection.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Spiderwort

Once you’ve found the flower you like and have obtained all the necessary permissions, it is easiest to flag the plant or mark the area so that you may come back later when the seeds have set for collection. Plants are much easier to identify while in bloom! You can prep yourself for seed collection by reading up on how the plant will produce its seeds. Will the seeds be in a pod? In a fruit? In a dried seed head? Fruits or pods may be easy to identify once the flowers are gone, but some plant species will be hard to identify without a flower blooming. If you are after seeds that are maturing at different rates on one seed head, you may want to plan several trips out for collecting to get the seeds before they fall on the ground. It is important to collect mature, healthy seed. If the seeds are still green and moist, they are not ready quite yet. A mature seed will be dark in color, normally brown and should be dry. Seed heads from flowers may need to be broken up to find the seed, just like a fruit will need to be opened to obtain the seeds.

There are several annual wildflowers, so it is important not to take all the seeds in one area. It is best to harvest here and there, not everywhere. Try not to impact more than 1/10th of an area. Depleting the seed bank of an area can be devastating for annuals and even perennial seeds may be lost if too hot a fire or the wrong herbicide impacts the seed bank. Sparingly is the key to being a good steward of our wildflowers. Once you have the wildflower established in your garden, it will produce plenty of seeds for you to further expand its range at your place. Native plants have deep root systems and it may take up to three years before you get a good bloom on some species of wildflower.

Milkweed is Essential for Monarch Butterflies!   
http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/restoring-the-monarch-butterfly.html

Now that you’ve got the seed, you’ll want to store it properly until planting time. First, to ensure the seeds are thoroughly dry, set them out on a paper towel for a week or so in a cool, dry place. I like to store my saved seeds in old spice jars, just make sure you clean all the cinnamon or parsley flakes out first! You’ll want to keep different species separated and label appropriately. The best time of year to plant wildflower seed is actually in the dormant season: December through February. The freeze and thaw action will scarify the seed coat and allow the seed to make better seed to soil contact. Broadcasting seed by hand and packing the seed down should be suitable to get enough soil to seed contact. You may want to try reading up on each specific seed type and burying a

few seeds, but most wildflower seed will not need to be very deep. One-half inch is about the maximum depth, with many seeds only needing 1/8” to 1/4” planting depth. Some natives will take up to three years to put out a flower, such as some of our coneflowers because they are investing so much energy into establishing a deep root system. That root system is what makes them hardy against extreme weather. The annual species, such as coreopsis, will likely bloom the first year.

Hopefully you can find the native plant seed you would like to incorporate into your garden that is not against state regulations. Getting native wildflowers established will not only be for your enjoyment, but butterflies, songbirds, and other small wildlife will also be appreciative!

Best source book for information to identify Missouri wildflowers!  Available through the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Best source catalog for native plants in your area!  Missouri Wildflower Nursery.

For computer-savvy gardeners, check out Grow Native!, a joint program of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Sources:  
Mary Crowell, Quail Forever  Reprinted from “The Garden Spade,”  A monthly Gardening Publication of the University of Missouri Extension -- Southeast and East Central Regions 

and 
Beti Pearson, Hickory County Master Gardener & Missouri Master Naturalist.