Flower Seed Saving Profiles

Flower Growing and Seed Saving Profiles

These profiles offer insights into the reseeding potential and harvest timing of 16 different common flower types, as well as seed-saving tips to help you confidently grow and preserve their beauty for years to come.

Learn how to grow and save flower seeds.

Amaranth

Amaranthus sp.

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Reseeding potential: Moderate to prolific

Pollination method: Wind

Isolation distance: 2 miles

Fresh Harvest: When inflorescences are three-quarters open.

Seed Harvest: Harvest seed heads when they begin to dry. Seeds are small and may require winnowing to remove chaff.

Seed viability: 5 years

Notes: Pinch plants when 12 inches tall to encourage slim stems that are more suitable for arranging. Amaranth is prone to lodging and may require additional support, like corralling using twine and t-posts. Dries very well for ornamental use.

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Bells of Ireland

Moluccella laevis

Sowing: Direct seed or transplant. Seeds require cold stratification—several weeks of exposure to cold temperatures. This can be achieved by sowing outdoors in fall or late winter, or by placing seeds in the freezer for several weeks prior to sowing

Reseeding potential: Moderate

Pollination method: Insects

Isolation distance: 300 ft

Fresh Harvest: Depending on desired stem length, begin harvesting when lower green bells start forming

A tall dried bells of Ireland flower with other dried and fresh flowers behind it growing in a garden — Bells of Ireland flowers going to seed

Seed Harvest: When the four seeds within the funnel-shaped calyx are dry

Notes: Plants are prone to lodging and may require additional support, like horizontal netting. Dries well for ornamental use.

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Calendula

Calendula officinalis

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Reseeding potential: Moderate to prolific

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: 700 ft

Fresh Harvest: When buds begin to open

Seed Harvest: Seeds mature rapidly and quickly shatter; they can be harvested slightly immature and further dried or protected with blossom bags to ensure a seed harvest.

Seed viability: 9 years

Notes: Calendula blooms are prolific and require regular cut flower harvest or deadheading. Sticky foliage.

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Celosia

Celosia sp.

A row of 'Amish Cockscomb' celosia plants with bright pink flowers — ‘Amish Cockscomb’ celosia, C. cristata

Many bright red 'Himalayan' celosia flowers with red and green leaves — ‘Himalayan’ celosia amaranth, Amaranthaceae celosia spicata

Sowing: Transplant (preferred) or direct seed

Reseeding potential: Low

Pollination: Self, insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile

Fresh Harvest: Harvest at the desired size, but before the seeds shatter.

Seed Harvest: Harvest when seeds have dried within flower heads and they begin dropping. Cut the whole seed heads and hang them to dry and mature further in a dry, ventilated place; further process via winnowing to remove viable seed from the chaff.

Seed viability: 4 years

Notes: Pinch cut-and-come again types (as opposed to single-stem Himalayan types) when six to eight inches tall. Excellent crop for drying.

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Cosmos

C. bipinnatus, C. sulphureus

Many bright orange 'Diablo' cosmos flowers in a garden — ‘Diablo’ cosmos, C. sulphureus

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Reseeding potential: High, within the same season

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile (C. bipinnatus and C. sulphureus usually do not cross-pollinate with one another.)

Fresh Harvest: When flower buds are partially open

Seed Harvest: Harvest the entire seed head as it ripens. Seeds mature rather quickly and shatter.

Many orange 'Diablo' cosmos flowers and several dried seed heads — Be sure to harvest cosmos seeds before they are scattered by wind.

Seed viability: 5 years

Notes: Plants benefit from additional support, like corralling using t-posts and twine. When pressed, C. sulphureus blooms leave behind vibrant, concentrated pigments.

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Hollyhocks

Alcea rosea

A field of pink, red, and white flowers growing vertically on tall stems — Hollyhocks growing at Heritage Farm

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Reseeding potential: High

Pollination: Self, insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile

Fresh Harvest: When one-third of the flowers on the stem have opened. Sear the stem ends with a lighter or boiling water to stop the flow of milky sap.

Dry hollyhock seed pods in a metal strainer — Screening dried hollyhock seeds

Seed Harvest: Collect fruits when dry

Seed viability: 9 years

Notes: Biennial, may not flower in the first year. Favorite of deer, may benefit from barriers such as fencing.

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Love-in-a-Mist

Nigella damascena

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed (preferred)

Reseeding potential: Prolific

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile

Fresh Harvest: Long harvest window that can begin when flowers are three-quarters open, through pod development and drying.

A large patch of blue 'Love-In-a-Mist' flowers and green-purple seed pods — Love-in-a-mist flowers have ornamental seed pods perfect for fresh or dry arrangements.

Seed Harvest: Crunchy, inflated mature capsules release many seeds through the opening at the top. Harvest the fruits (or entire plants) and shake out the seeds into a bowl or bucket.

Seed viability: 5 years

Notes: Dried seedpods are striking! Use caution when seed harvesting to preserve both seeds and capsules, if desired.

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Marigold

Tagetes spp.

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Reseeding potential: Slight to moderate

Pollination: Self, insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile

Fresh Harvest: When flower heads are half open

Many dried 'Carolyn's Gem' marigold flowers in a metal strainer — Harvest marigold seeds when the flowers are completely dry on the plant.

Seed Harvest: When individual heads are dry

Seed viability: 5 years

Notes: Pinch when plants are 8-12 inches tall to encourage bushier plants and more blooms throughout the season.

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Morning Glory

Ipomoea purpurea

Sowing: Direct seed

Reseeding potential: Very prolific

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile

Seed harvest: Collect brown seed pods

Seed viability: 4 years

A spent purple 'Grandpa Ott's' morning glory bloom curled in on itself — Remove spent blooms (pictured) to prevent seed pods from forming

Notes: Self-seed readily and can be aggressive. To prevent this, deadhead any spent blooms to prevent the flowers from going to seed. Be diligent about pulling unwanted seedlings, especially volunteer plants in springtime. Morning glories require trellising; they will climb and choke out nearby plants.

Learn how to trellis morning glories.

Many tall vines with purple 'Grandpa Ott's' morning glory flowers climbing up the side of a barn — ‘Grandpa Ott’s’ morning glory grows along the side of the barn at Heritage Farm every year.

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Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: ¼ mile

Fresh harvest: Edible flowers, young leaves, and immature seed pods often harvested fresh for culinary purposes

Many green circular nasturtium leaves — Nasturtium leaves are edible with a peppery taste

Seed harvest: When seed pods are brown and drooping, or dislodge easily from the plant (may still be green)

Seed viability: 10 years

Notes: Fast-growing, trialing or climbing habit.

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Petunia

Petunia spp.

Sowing: Transplant (preferred) or direct seed

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: 700 ft

Fresh harvest: Harvest when 1-2 flowers on the stem are open.

A hand holds a tiny 'Old Fashioned Vining' petunia seed pod — Harvest whole seed heads when the central pod is brown and dry

Seed harvest: Seed pods and seeds are very small. Harvest whole seed heads when the central pod is brown and dry. Each pod contains MANY seeds.

Seed viability: 5 years

Notes: Seeds require light for germination.

Instructional Videos:

When and How to Harvest Petunia Seeds
How to Winnow Petunia Seeds

Breadseed Poppy

Papaver somniferum

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed (preferred)

Reseeding potential: Moderate to prolific, depending on capsule type

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: 300 ft

Fresh Harvest: Harvest when flowers are half open and sear the stem ends with a lighter or boiling water. Breadseed poppies have a short vase life, lasting just two to three days.

Seed Harvest: Harvest dry pods and shake the seeds out into a bowl or bucket.

Seed viability: 2 years

Notes: While short-lived fresh in the vase, breadseed types produce pods that add excellent interest to both fresh and dried arrangements.

A green 'Chima Family Heirloom' breadseed poppy seed pod with bright pink blooms in the background — Breadseed poppies produce beautiful ornamental seed pods that stun fresh or dried

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Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

Sowing: Transplant preferred

Reseeding potential: Slight

Pollination: Self, insects

Isolation distance: 600 ft

Fresh Harvest: When the bottom two to three flowers are open. After the flowers are pollinated they quickly drop.

Seed Harvest: Fruits are capsules with many seeds. Harvest the flower stalk when two-thirds of the capsules are ripe for a large harvest. Alternatively, harvest individual fruits and shake out the seeds.

Seed viability: 3 years

A garden of white snapdragons supported by Hortonova netting — Horizontal support, like Hortonova netting, can help encourage straight snapdragon stems

Notes: Mostly self-pollinated. Pinching is recommended when plants are four to five inches. Consider providing horizontal support, like Hortonova, to encourage straight stems.

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Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed (preferred)

Reseeding potential: Moderate to prolific

Pollination: Insects

Isolation distance: ½ mile

Fresh Harvest: When florets begin to rise from the head.

Hands holding up a very large, dried, sunflower head full of seeds — A dried sunflower bloom with mature seeds

Seed Harvest: Allow the seed head to dry down. To deter birds from the seeds and ensure you get a harvest, tie a paper bag over the seed head, and allow it to further dry indoors.

Seed viability: 3 years

Notes: Plants can get large and may require additional support, like corralling using twine and t-posts.

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Strawflower

Xerochrysum bracteatum

Sowing: Transplant (preferred) or direct seed

Reseeding potential: Slight

Pollination: Self, insects

Isolation distance: ½ mile

Fresh Harvest: When flower centers first open, but before they’ve been pollinated.

Seed Harvest: Mature seeds inside the papery bracts can be harvested once fully dry on the plant. Rub the heads to release the seeds. Further process to remove the chaff.

Seed viability: 2 years

Notes: For ornamental drying, harvest blooms just as they begin to open—they will continue to open as they dry.

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Zinnia

Zinnia sp.

Sowing: Transplant or direct seed

Pollination: Self, insects

Isolation distance: ½ mile

Fresh Harvest: When the stem below the head is stiff and firm

Several dried zinnia seed heads — Dried zinnia seed heads

Seed Harvest: Harvest seed heads when they are dry and mature; the stem below the head will be brown. Remove the seeds from the head and winnow to remove the viable seeds from the chaff.

Seed viability: 10 years

Notes: Pinching recommended. Plants may require additional support, like corralling, using twine, and t-posts.

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Read our zinnia growing and seed saving guide here!

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