How do I harvest the seeds?

For most species it’s easy to figure out by watching the plant. For many species, the seed turns dark as it ripens (but some seed turns light-colored at that time).  One of the easiest ways to tell if seed is ripe is to watch for the first few seeds that start to come loose from whatever structure is holding them in the pod or seedhead. When the seed starts to fly away in a breeze, or pop open and shoot seed some distance, or just start to fall out, then it’s ripe.

To assess seed ripeness for the plants you’re growing, see individual plant descriptions.

I harvested the seed, now what?

Seed can be killed by mold, heat, or other stresses. Never leave seed in a car or in a plastic bag in the sun; the resulting heat can ‘cook’ the seed. The best solution is for you to keep it in a cool dry place only as long as necessary and turn it in to a garden coordinator as soon as practical.

In its inaugural year, the Native Seed Gardeners program placed over 3,000 rare native plants with enthusiastic home gardeners.  Yet, behind every plant adopted by a home gardener stands a volunteer who donated a few hours of time to handpick the seed.

Volunteers needed to help collect seeds.

Come gather seeds with us. You will learn how to collect seeds like those in the Native Seed Gardeners program. See what these plants look like in their natural habitat. It’s a great way to learn about the plants while engaging in a relaxing and rewarding activity.  

Schedule of Seed Drives:

Beginning on: TBD
Thursdays and Saturday’s from 9-11 a.m.
Sundays from 3:30-5 p.m.

Locations and Directions:

Meet at Citizens for Conservation (CFC) headquarters, 459 West Hwy. 22, the white farmhouse with a silo across from Good Shepherd Hospital, between Kelsey Road and Highway 59 in Lake Barrington.

Spring Creek Forest Preserves
Meet at various preserve locations, check the Spring Creek Stewards website for locations and directions.

Special Field Trips
Volunteers collect seeds from natural populations in the Barrington area, and on occasion, we go on special seed-collecting field trips to Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin and other nearby conservation lands.