Flowers and gardening are fantastic, but saving seeds takes you to a whole new level. Not only do you get massive amounts of free plants, but it is rewarding and generally easy. Here are 11 popular flowers to start with and how to harvest for the best success.
Saving Seeds For Next Year – How-to Guide For 11 Popular Flowers
There is a mixture of annuals and perennials on this list because some perennials you just can’t get enough of!
A couple of years ago, I bought several packages of seeds from some of my favorite companies, and that’s what started it all for me. It is so gratifying to grow my own flowers out of the beauties of last year!
If you’re gardening on a budget or just love watching things grow, saving seeds is for you!
How to Save Seeds
One thing to note is that many hybrids or created flowers do not produce seeds that will reproduce.
Besides the Lantana and Hibiscus, saving seeds from annuals is pretty basic.
- The key to saving seeds is to allow them to completely dry and mature on the plant.
- Snipping off half-dried flowers will not produce germinated seeds, nor will cut flowers. Seeds are only produced as the withering flower is left on the plant.
- The longer you leave it on the plant, the better. This is why you’ll see my flower gardens have a few dead flowers here and there, especially in September. I’m saving seeds for next year!
- Make sure you have a good, clean pair of pruning shears and some bowls or paper bags. I usually just cut off the entire flowerhead, including the stem, right into the bowl or bag.
- After they’ve dried for a couple of weeks, I’ll pull apart the flower and gather the developed seeds and place them in a labeled paper bag or envelope for storage. Sometimes I’ll save the whole flowerhead until spring, and that’s fine too.
- Developed seeds are usually at the flower’s center and are more full and solid than those that aren’t viable. Ensure you know which seeds need to be cold-stratified, or else they won’t grow.
Cold-stratified is a term used to mimic winter for these seeds. What I usually do is place them in an envelope and into my refrigerator for the designated time. This gives the seeds the moist, cold “weather” they need to germinate.
1. Cosmos
Next to the marigold, I would say this is the easiest seed to collect from my garden.
They are also one of the easiest to grow. The seedlings are hardy, and almost every seed is viable.
Spent flowers dry up quickly, and you’re left with dried up spikes where the petals used to be; these are your seeds.
Some varieties are a little more closed in like the marigold, but it’s still very easy to collect!
2. Zinnia
These beautiful flowers seem to last forever! While that’s amazing for our growing season, it’s easy to get impatient when saving seeds.
There tend to be quite a few seeds per flower, so thankfully, I only need to let a couple dry up and get brown.
Think of it this way… each flower petal is the means of carrying the seed off into the wild blue yonder when it’s dried up. So the more petals a flower has, generally, the more seeds you have.
With zinnias, the seeds often remain attached to the petal as you harvest.
3. Milkweed
You might be familiar with breaking open milkweed pods as a kid and watching all of the soft down go flying everywhere.
At the end of each piece of that down is a seed attached, waiting to find a new home.
It’s essential to know that the iconic Monarch butterfly caterpillar can survive on milkweed alone, so it’s vital to plant this valuable flower to help the population!
If you research how beneficial milkweed is to wildlife and pollinators, you’ll see it plays a critical role. Even the hummingbirds love the flowers!
The trick to saving seeds from milkweed is to let the pod stay on the plant and get brown.
You still don’t want to clip the pod off yet!
Wait until you can see the pod opening, and then it’s ready to harvest. Any time before that and the seeds are probably not viable.
These seeds are actually pretty easy to break free from the down. You can shake them in a bag if you want for easier removal. They also need to be cold-stratified, so a month in the fridge should do it!
From experience, it seems about 50-75% of seeds planted have grown into plants, so maybe plant a couple more than intended. You can always give them away or plant them in a field somewhere!
4. Coneflower aka Echinacea
Saving seeds from your spent coneflowers is simple. I harvest and store these the same way I do my zinnias.
I just clip off the dried, dead flower, place it in a paper bag, label and store. Sometimes a gentle shake of the bag will loosen the seeds from the seed head.
There are differing opinions on whether coneflower, aka Echinacea, needs cold-stratification or not. And you’ll read equal amounts on both sides.
Living in the Midwest, I figure than any plant that’s a perennial here will get the cold treatment, including Echinacea.
5. Rudbeckia
Saving seeds from Rudbeckia is done the same way as coneflowers or zinnias. Right down to the cold-stratification. These need to be cold treated, about 30 days, to break dormancy.
Rudbeckia is also known as brown-eyed and black-eyed Susans. The difference is the center (brown or black), the shape, and the height. The brown-eyed Susans also are the main ones that are considered wildflowers.
Both are gorgeous, both are great for saving seeds!
6. Marigold
The marigold has to be the easiest plant to harvest seeds from! All you do is snap off that dried flower and bam, a handful of seeds that are easy to save just by grabbing the dried petals!
Not all of them will be viable, from what I’ve seen, so plant extra.
7. Poppies
Depending on your variety of poppy, they can be annuals or perennials. So saving seeds can be extra beneficial for you if you have annuals.
My oriental poppies are perennials, but I occasionally like to harvest the seeds and have some pretty bright orange flowers in my ditch or around the house.
It’s super easy to save these seeds! You’ll see what resembles a maraca left on the flower stem. These will be hardened, and as soon as it looks like they’ve developed a little top hat, you can snip them off!
Fun tip: If you shake the flowerhead, you can hear the seeds rattling around in there like maracas. You know they’re ready to be harvested after they make music. 🙂
8. Lantana
Butterflies love lantana, and so do I! Saving seeds from them is slightly different, but they store the same.
After the petals fall off, you’ll see this little pinecone-looking thing left over, which is the pistil. These are the parts you deadhead, and these are also the parts you leave on if you want to harvest seeds.
Well, some of them.
Some of these pistils will have little berries on them; these are your seeds. You’ll want to leave these berries on the plant to mature, or they won’t be viable.
When mature, they will be black like a berry. Just take them off and let them dry for a couple of days. Your seeds are inside those berries!
Pretty easy!
9. Shasta daisy
The beautiful Shasta daisy is as easy to collect seeds from as the Rudbeckia. All you do is wait for a flower to die and dry ON the plant and snip off the flowerhead.
Shake it in a bag or take apart in a bowl, and there are your seeds.
Please note: Do not get these native daisies confused with the invasive Oxeye daisy. While pretty, it will take over native wildflowers, which is not beneficial to pollinators and wildlife. When saving seeds, bypass these!
10. Hibiscus
The beautiful hibiscus starts blooming in summer and keeps going even after a light frost. Saving seeds from them is relatively easy, but you have to make sure you harvest at the right time.
Once the petals fall off, you’ll see the green seed head, which now looks like a cute little package. Leave it on the plant and watch for it to turn brown and dry up.
Once it’s brown, you’ll want to snip that off as the browned seed pod can open and disperse its seed in about 24 hours.
Inside the pod, you’ll see lines of round seeds, almost in a little chamber. These are your beauties for next year! Store in a cool, dry place with the rest of your seeds.
The way to get them to start growing can be a bit tricky, as the seeds’ outer shell needs to be broke or nicked (without damaging the inner seed) to start the gemination process. This is to allow the water to get to that viable seed so it can start growing.
Hardy hibiscus seeds need cold-stratification several times to germinate, which is nature’s process of keeping them from growing too early.
To do this, they can be stored outside where they will be dry but exposed to the elements. You can also stick them in the freezer for a few days, let them thaw, and repeat several times.
To nick or break the outer shell can be tricky, but definitely doable. If you have a steady hand, you can lay your dried seeds on a paper towel and nick them with a sharp knife or razor blade. You must be careful not to cut the inner seed, though!
The other method consists of soaking them in water for a few hours to soften them, and then place them in a jar with some aquarium gravel and giving it a fair shake. Once that outer shell is cracked or broken, they are ready to plant.
I prefer the second method, as I’m always afraid of cutting too far with the razor blade or knife.
Whichever way you prefer, saving seeds from the hibiscus isn’t that difficult and is definitely worth the beauty!
11. Cup plant
This beautiful plant isn’t well-known enough, in my opinion. Its a perennial and will also grow wild in meadows and fields. Its a plant I feel you can’t have enough of!
The cup plant is beautiful and very beneficial to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Also, it forms a sort of “cup” at the base of each leaf. This cup will hold rainwater for wildlife to grab a drink.
Saving seeds from the cup plant is simple. After the petals fall off, the center will begin to develop seeds.
Snip off the seed heads as soon as the stem below it begins to dry up and turn brown. Store in a cool, dry place with the rest of your seeds!
60 days of moist, cold-stratification is recommended before planting. I simply use my refrigerator!
Tips For Storing Flower Seeds
- Most seeds store the same and prefer cool, dry places. You can keep the whole flowerhead or clean up the seeds by sorting them and removing all of the chaff.
- You can store them in any container you wish. I like to keep the seeds in brown paper lunch bags or envelopes. This is to give them a breathable place of storage so there’s no hidden moisture.
- It’s almost important to make sure your seeds are labeled. It’s been too many times that I’ve had no idea what I was planting because I didn’t label as I was saving seeds!
- Before storing, your seeds must be completely dry. Any moisture can cause the seeds to mold or maybe even try to grow.
- I also like to store them in a dark area, so any warm sunlight or bright light doesn’t cause them to grow.
- Some seeds can be stored for years to come, but I try to use most of them the following year. I’ve found that annuals don’t always last as long as perennial seeds.
- Instead of storing perennial seeds, you may also fall sow them!
Saving seeds to start your own new round of flowers for the next year is so gratifying and money-saving! I really love doing it and have learned a lot. I’ll share those things in another article, but for now, I hope this one was helpful to you!
Are there any other seeds you’ve harvested for the next year? Please do share them with me below… I know I have several other ones as well! 🙂
Best view i have ever seen !
thank you very much!
thank you!
I love how you have explained the process of harvesting, saving and storing seeds. The pictures of the flower in its full glory and then the flower/seed that is ready for harvest, these pictures, help so much in knowing and understanding when and how to harvest the seeds. Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much!!! Happy it helped! 🙂
Excellent information. Thank you!
Christine,
Thanks you SO much, as I’ve been searching for a way to best save the seeds from several that you have mentioned in this article. My husband & I live in the Midwest also…(MO.) so your article will help us to save the seeds for the coming year, now that we know better HOW to save them!
Thanks TONS!
You are so very welcome! So happy it helped!! 🙂
I like the CLOME flower. It is easy to get seeds from them. There are seed pods on the stem under the flower head. As soon as they turn brown they will pop open and spill hundreds of seeds.
Yes those are beautiful!!
Glad I came across your instructions! Lantanas are quite expensive so, I just went outside and snagged my black berries before the wasps ate them all! 😊 I left them some, too. Hope I have success! Thank you for your thorough instructions!
I love Sweet William flowers and they are another that I save seeds from. They come in a multitude of colors so I try to save my favorite colors to reseed.
Could you comment as to when is the best time to plant these seeds? Do they need to be kept in cold storage until ready to pant? I’d hate to go thru all this effort only to screw up the last procedure.
As a general rule, if they are a perennial in your area, yes (but this isn’t a rule, I would suggest Googling it to make sure), and if they are an annual, no. Of course some rules can be broken so please do check your gardening zone! 🙂
I have been collecting seeds since I retired. Portulaca seeds can be collected. They are extremely small. In the spring I put the seeds into seed starter soil. I was amazed at how prolific they were. My flowerbed edge looks so colorful.
I will collect bachelor buttons soon. Thanks for information on Lantana. Has anyone had success with Mexican sunflowers? Do they need cold stratification?
That is so fun! Love hearing that. Nope, Mexican sunflowers don’t need the cold stratification process.
ok girl I’m ready to bloom come next year thank you so much for all the goodies nothing makes you fell good like a beautiful flower garden.
I so agree! And you’re so welcome! 🙂
This is the best information! Thank you so much for taking the time to post it!
You are so welcome, happy it was helpful!
I just came across your instructions by accident and am very glad I did. About six years ago I had gotten a couple of Lantanas and put them in pots and store them in the garage every winter. They have come back every year even with a very cold winter. With the rising costs of everything, I knew we wouldn’t be able to replace them but they did come back. This year I won’t worry because of your tips. Thanks so much.
That is so great to hear! And yes, a huge money savings for sure and very rewarding!
One of my favorite seeds is Snapdragon. Also Delphinium. Very easy!!
Yes they are easy for sure! Thanks for the reminder that I have to get my snapdragon seeds out! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this info and especially the pictures. I recently “retired ” and now want to do “fun” things like make a beautiful flower garden. With the price of plants and the deer thinking it is their gourmet meal, harvesting seeds may be what I need to do! I am going to give it a try. Thanks again.
Yes I understand with the deer! And also the fun part… it really is a joy of mine! I hope it turns out amazing for you and hey, enjoy your retirement!! 🙂
Thank you for this information! I have some gorgeous asters and zinnias that I was trying to figure out if I could save seeds from them. I have four o’clocks that I save seeds from every year. This is a flower I remember my Mom growing when I was growing up so I plant them to remind me of her.
Yes I remember my grandma having those flowers! And you are so welcome! 🙂
Does the cold stratification happen right before planting?
So let’s say, you leave the seeds in a cool dry area over winter then 30 to 60 days before Memorial Day you put them in frig until planting season?
I’m also from the Midwest.
Great question and that’s the way I always did it Jodie. I was always afraid if I cold stratified and then let them sit for week they would either die or start growing too early. But in the wild there is all kinds of weather so I would think it would work either way, I’ve just never tried it any other way.
I’m just starting seed saving; great detailed info. Do you know anything about Rose of Sharon? I’d like another one from the one I have. Thanks
Hey Susan! So far I have yet to have luck with saving Rose of Sharon seeds, although I’ve tried a small handful of times. One time it’s possible I gathered seeds too early but either way, they did not grow the next year. I’ll keep trying! I’m glad this was helpful though! 🙂
Thank u for your tutorial on collecting seeds!!! I am excited to be able to try this!
You are so welcome Joyce, I hope it’s going well! 🙂
I live in michigan. With the cold winters could I store them all in the garage over the winter?
Hey Denise I lived in Michigan all my life up until last year. 🙂 If they are annual seeds, I would definitely advise against that or they will most likely die. If they are perennial seeds, sure, I always have (or in my cold basement)
Awesome tips! I recently taught my grandchildren how to plant marigolds from seed. They were pretty excited, and it turned out that I taught my daughter this trick at the same time. 🤣 I do this with a few flowers. Next spring I am going to try columbine, and give the plants to friends.
That is so fun! I love how easy marigolds grow from seed, fun for all. 🙂 I love trading seeds and plants too or giving them away!
I’m constantly saving Babys Breath seeds. There so easy to grow n are so pretty in my arrangements or just alone. I also love Black eye Susan’s. I usually buy a packet but after reading the information you shared I’m definitely going to try your way.
I appreciate you sharing all this wonderful information at how to save the seeds.
Thank you so much for saying that Michelle! I keep trying more and more different kinds, it makes it so easy to plant a lot of flowers the next yeare!
Your info was tremendously helpful!! I also love to harvest my annual impatiens. They seem to grow a lot more full and sturdy than the ones that come from a store and u have to replant. Even though they do take a little longer to establish themselves than the store bought ones, the $$$ savings is well worth it!!
I agree with you Jan! They do seem stronger! I also agree it’s a little more work but its sooo rewarding and definitely a money saver!
Hi Christine! I am so glad I came upon your site! I have coneflowers for the first time and I want to store the seeds. What a help this all is! I had no idea how to find/ store seeds for lantana! It’s one of my new favorites and not always that easy to find around here.
I’ll let you know how I make out in the spring!
One question, when do you recommend plating in the spring?
Thank you so much for your message Cindy!! So glad it was helpful! Since Lantana is considered an annual in more northern states I wouldn’t save the seeds anywhere they can freeze. Also if you are planting seeds into the ground, most annuals I recommend planting after your last frost. If they are perennials you can plant then anytime, even in the fall (for most plants)
when is the proper time to cut back lantanas..ty
I usually cut off the flowers as they fall off (that stem) so it will keep flowering. If I want to save the seeds I wait until the seed pod gets a dark color and then pick that off. Sometimes they fall into the soil so look there too if you can’t find them.
Thanks so much for this helpful information! I also have had success saving seeds from wave petunias. Each dry ‘pod’ contains hundreds of tiny, black, pin dot size seeds. Most will germinate and grow into beautiful plants if started early enough in the late winter/early spring indoors. I have not cold stratified but lots of thinning/transplanting is required.
That is so awesome! Yes, those petunia seeds are sure tiny but they are such beautiful flowers!
I just started saving my seeds off my coneflowers this year. Plan on doing some more. Thanks .
That’s awesome Ellen and you’re welcome!
Thanks SOOOO MUCH for all the great information. With the price of plants, at the nursery, now days your tips are GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Happy gardening!!
You are so very welcome Donna thank you so much for saying so!!! Yes, it is definitely a money-saver!!
You are a WEALTH of KNOWLEDGE! Thank you SO Much! I Really enjoyed your article. I also shared it with two of my Daughters, who are beginners 💜 Have a Wonderful Day! Be Safe . DebiLee💜♥️💜
Thank you so very much I hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
Clome is a beautiful plant & re-seeds easily.
Yes and the pollinators love it! 🙂
Seed saving is a skill I hope to get better at in the coming season. Didn’t realize I could even save lantana, I never grow it!! Adding it to next year.
It is definitely a skill! I’ve thrown away a ton of “duds” that were probably only duds because of something I didn’t quite do right! I’m already looking forward to seedlings and I hope you have an abundance as well! 🙂