How to Save and Harvest Penstemon Seeds

[@moggsist]

Great video! I've just discovered your video's and am delighted that you do native plants! I grow Penstemon digitalis and I harvested seeds for the first time this year. I don't have the strength in my hands to mash the pods, so I put the branches with the pods between sheets of newspaper and rolled over them with my rolling pin. Occasionally a pod would come shooting out, but you could sure hear them craking open. I didn't realize how much seed I would wind up with. I probably have enough to supply a seed house!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Margaret- I'm happy you are enjoying my videos. Penstemon does give ridiculous amounts of seed. That's funny you mentioned the rolling pin. I thought about doing that for the video, but knew from past experience just how prolific those little pods are. Great minds think alike!

[@mlynnw7831]

I’m really enjoying your seed saving videos. They’re very practical, straightforward, and educational. I’m a clean seed freak too, so I appreciate the extra steps. Thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Mlynn. Lately I've just been incorporating the seed saving into the regular videos. But I've been putting a digital table of contents in the description, so you should be able to jump right to a particular part.

[@sandiswiss3885]

Thanks for this video! I love your channel. My penstemmon just started forming seed heads so I knew it was time to learn when and how to collect the seeds. I’ve used a lot of your other videos to help plan my new native gardens planted last season.

[@growitbuildit]

Now this is the kind of comment I love to read. Thank you and keep up the good work Sandi!

[@SecretNinjaUnicorn10]

Same here! So glad I came across his channel!!

[@carolynblakeney966]

I just finally ID-d the pods I collected last year from a neighbor as being from Penstemon digitalis, I think the Blackbeard cultivar, and for sure Penstemon seedpods are a 'tough nut to crack'. One of my kitchen sieves worked perfectly to separate seeds from pod debris. I know the offspring are unlikely to be identical to the cultivar but am taking a shot as the leaves are flat out gorgeous (deep burgundy red) even without the also gorgeous flowers. Even if they all revert to the species form I will be happy to have some more natives to add to my mess of a landscape.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent Carolyn - I love it when a strainer is just the right size for cleaning seed. Congrats, and good luck with your free plants. I would be curious if they revert. I always find that interesting.

[@remoreno6596]

When you popped open one of the capsules and I saw all those seeds, I totally geeked out.🤣🤣🤣 I love collecting seeds. I grew a Pentsemmon Paryi and it gave me sooo many blooms, I collected the stalks and let the pods dry out more in a bucket and I am ready to harvest today! I'm so excited!

[@growitbuildit]

It's amazing how many seeds you can get from these plants. They are very prolific.

[@remoreno6596]

@@growitbuildit I got so many seeds from that one plant! I am saving them in a 4oz jam jar and it's filled with them. I collected pentsemmon seeds from the side of the road a few summers back and I'll mix them together for variety!

[@angelinanotangie4172]

Thanks for the video. I noticed a purple flower randomly growing in my lawn and I relocated it to my flower bed. Turns out it’s Rocky Mountain Penstemon. This’ll help me because I want to establish this beautiful flower in different parts of my yard. Thanks again.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome. It is great to forage your own wild seed, especially from your yard. I'm glad I could help you out and good luck!

[@mistyblu4485]

Thanks for the video. One plant was found in my garden (most likely from a bird) and I wanted to save seeds from it. But they aren’t as brown as these seen here. So I’ll have to wait a few more weeks. But I can’t wait, it’s a beautiful plant and I want to see it again next year.

[@growitbuildit]

I'm glad I could help you out. Good luck sowing the seed!

[@renekimray]

Excellent information, much appreciated! We discovered a few of these plants at the edge of our yard and wanted to plant some elsewhere. Your video is super clear on the project from start to finish, and I love how well the strainer will work to separate them. Looking forward to exploring the rest of your content. Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Rene! I'm glad you are finding it helpful!

[@mollycatcolorado9252]

Thanks for posting the various seed saving videos. I need to pick me up a strainer like you have. That sure works great to seperately seed. And yep, those slow-mo shots of all the seeds are pretty awesome! Great camera work!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! I just grabbed a kitchen strainer from a big-box store for about $1. Just try to get a very fine mesh if you can. And thank you for the kind words!

[@phyllismaston7345]

Amazing harvest of seeds! Nature is so abundantly generous!!!

[@growitbuildit]

It absolutely is

[@chaseakins3440]

Last year I had to break open Foxglove Beardtongue pods with a rubber mallet! I framed the outside of a table to "contain" the overspray. It still made a mess in the garage, but my thumbs were wrecked after pinching the seed pods a few times. LOL!

[@growitbuildit]

You could try using a rolling pin with the pods in a brown paper bag

[@1820Rena]

I've started to harvest seeds for the first time, thanks for all the great info! :)

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Rena - you are very welcome! I'm happy to hear you are saving some seed!

[@socutebracelets]

I love saving seed. It makes me feel a bit like Scrooge McDuck diving into a pile of gold coins. I don’t sell them or anything. I just give them away and run my hands through them and feel abundant. 😊 Anyway, I came here because some penstemon that I started from seed two summers ago is finally blooming and I love it and want a ton more. Looks as though that won’t be difficult!

[@growitbuildit]

It is pretty easy to save the seed Kaitlin - the process should be identical!

[@laurenmalfatti5819]

What exactly on the stalk is the pod created from? I have a Margarita BOP whose blooms just wilted so I pruned it back but left a few stalks with soent flowers hoping they would create the seed pods. But so far I just have dried up flowers or a stamen with no dried petals. Great video, thanks for the help!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Lauren - there should be small green capsules forming right at the base where the petals were. It may take a few days. But it will grow and eventually turn brown.

[@laurenmalfatti5819]

​@@growitbuildit Ah I see them! Thanks so much for clarifying!

[@aok2727]

I collected some penstemon seeds from the Steen Mountains of SE Oregon. I need to figure out the best time to sow them in a seed starting tray and attempt a direct sow outdoors.

[@growitbuildit]

Pretty much all Penstemon species need a period of cold-moist stratification. By far the easiest way to achieve this is to Winter Sow the seed. I made a very detailed video that should be of help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXy7immaoZJois0

[@aok2727]

I have done this with pretty good success. I thought I would sow some on the soil in the garden as well as using winter sowing. I went and looked at that video and I will definitely try it! Thanks!

[@almagarlo5808]

Can you spread the seeds directly into the soil at the same time in the fall when you collect them?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Alma- You could do exactly that. In fact I did so a few years ago and well, I have a ton of Penstemon hirsutus now. If the soil is disturbed, with little competition, you should have better odds of successful germination/growing.

[@nikiryan8648]

this explains why the nursery I bought my midnight masquerades from cut off all the seed heads. I will have more next year, want them to spread like mad!

[@growitbuildit]

They can spread very easily! I'm not familiar with midnight masquerades. But if it is a hybrid, then the seed may yield a different Penstemon - probably one of the parents.

[@lindydavies6163]

Should I leave the finished flower heads dry on the plant before I cut them?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Lindy, I would wait until they start to dry. In my experience no birds seem to eat them. I've seen them persist until the following Spring.

[@courtneybalestier3989]

This is so helpful thank you! This is my first year with hairy beardtongue, and I just cut some stalks from the plants, but the seed heads are open somewhat. Are the seeds still in there or have they likely already fallen out? I crushed a few but the specks are so small I don't know if I'm looking at seeds or not!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Courtney - in my experience some seed will stay in the head even after they open a bit. Now, as to what fell out, if it feels very hard/solid, it is probably seed. If it crushes or doesn't feel tough/hard, it is probably chaff. Seed is much harder/denser than chaff.

[@courtneybalestier3989]

@@growitbuildit Thanks so much for the reply, that's really helpful!

[@starrlacappell7591]

I know there are a lot of seeds there. Im also sure you are not going to plant individually. So how do you plant thoses seeds?

[@growitbuildit]

If direct sowing, do it in the Fall/Winter. Just scatter them on top of disturbed soil. If you want to grow them in pots, just Winter Sow them. If using six-packs, try to get 5-10 seeds per cell. If in a jug, just take a pinch and sprinkle them on top of the soil. Here is a video on Winter Sowing to explain - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXy7immaoZJois0

[@SecretNinjaUnicorn10]

@@growitbuilditcan I just go ahead and sprinkle seeds as soon as I collect them? I’m in zone 8-9

[@debsquires7237]

Another great video, thank you

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! Thank you for the kind words.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I tried to save seeds from my Penstemon procerus and OMG they are tineeee. Towards the end I kind of just gave up on the whole chaff separation and sprinkled a general seed plus chaff dusting over my soil because man ain't nobody got time.

[@growitbuildit]

The chaff is a personal preference. With the right strainer, it goes quick. But your seeds should grow, nonetheless. Chaff doesn't hurt it at all.

[@rena54311]

Love your videos. I'm trying this with my "husker red" penstemon. The pods are very hard to pop. Any advice?

[@growitbuildit]

He Rena - they are just tough. You could place them in a bag and try a rolling pin. But each pod will contain a lot of seed. So you should be good with just a few if nothing else. Also, I'm not very familiar with Husker Red. You may want to check that it is a naturally occurring variety that is true to type - ie the seed will produce the same flower. Sometimes those with special names are hybrids, and the seed will instead make one of the parent flowers.

[@charlesbale8376]

This video was very helpful...Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Charles

[@bubblesmckenzie4125]

They remind me of snapdragon seed pods. (Very hard to pop because of so many seeds.)

[@yenfr5306]

Thank you for the video I just saved some seeds to plant in other places of my garden. Oh and what do you think about moss? So I read things against it and for it. Saying that it can hold on to moisture really well and that it can actually help plants. I have been thinking about planting it. Even though I have read it's not invasive and it does not damage any plants I'm afraid to plant it. What do you think about it? Do you think it's good or not worth it to plant? I have a shady area where nothing grows I have a big tree that gives a lot of shade, but on the left side and right side it also gets a lot of shade. So I have a bare spot that turns to mud when it rains.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Yan - I'm happy to hear you are saving some seed! Regarding moss, I'm all for growing moss if it is a native type and is grown in its natural conditions. If you go out into the forests of the Eastern USA, you will find it in deep woods growing on the ground and clinging to rocks. It also can be a significant component in a 'natural' lawn for lawns with wooded/shaded homes. If you are looking to keep vegetation there all the time, then moss is a good choice. But note that it can creep into the 'proper' lawn. Plants like to grow and spread wherever they are able! There are other alternatives too. There are numerous shade-loving perennials and shrubs that could be planted out. If you are located in North America, this site is excellent for finding native plants for you area that match the growing conditions you are interested in. Just filter the light requirements, and any other characteristics you are interested in. www.wildflower.org/plants/ Good luck!

[@bonnywagner4069]

How dry do the seed heads need to be before you cut them off the plants?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Bonny - I normally wouldn't collect before August/September. But I suppose if the pods / stalk are brown, then it should be fine.

[@bonnywagner4069]

@@growitbuildit thanks. Perhaps there is enough I can try some now and some later.

[@marybaker5801]

How long does it usually take for the seed to burst on the plant? I’d like to leave on as long as possible.

[@growitbuildit]

I've removed pods in Spring that never burst. So you can leave it, it should be pretty safe. I almost wonder if it's birds opening up, as in they won't burst on their own.

[@marybaker5801]

@@growitbuildit Thanks, I'll try it, however I''ve had some burst in the summer after bloom - unsure why some burst early. I'm not cutting much down this year, so I'll leave them and recover from whatever happens in the spring :-)

[@maggiecimba7390]

But do u have to put tgem in the refrigerator ?

[@growitbuildit]

They can be stored in an envelope in a cool/dark place. But to germinate them, they will need to be cold-stratified in a moist paper towel or winter sowed. Winter sowing is by far my favorite method to germinate the seeds - by far the easiest method.

[@growitbuildit]

See here for the fridge - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHrKipiaqqmcg5Y (30 days on these seeds, so Feb/March would work) See here for Winter Sowing - the easiest way - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXy7immaoZJois0

[@anneweigold9356]

Do the seeds have to be black or can they be green

[@growitbuildit]

If they are green,then i would think that they haven't fully ripened

[@maggiecimba7390]

Great video.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome!

[@lovelight9164]

I really wish people selling the pestimone seeds would sell them by pods in a baggie. I bought from a random online seller and what I received looks like just chafe. Im not sure if I should waste the time and soil to attempt to grow them.

[@growitbuildit]

If there is seed in there, it will feel very hard. And if you've got it, you can just surface it sow it and hope for the best.

[@gardenwithsufian6845]

This video is great; thanks for replying to my request!

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome!

[@nikierohrer2001]

Thank you. Good video.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Nikie!

[@tabbswan]

Fantastic, thank you so much!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@lesliewatts7042]

Slow motion seed porn haha! Thanks for the videos. I love them. I am just now getting in to gardening and growing but I can't wait to try and save and grow seeds from my beardstongue. Its such a beautiful plant. Hopefully the stems make it to maturity. I'm pretty sure I have a bad rabbit problem. Everything is getting snapped!

[@growitbuildit]

Mature plants getting eaten? Wow - that is new for me. I've had damage when the shoots are emerging and young, but not once they get a bit taller.

[@george200099]

I think you’re wrong. There’s not more than 99,999 of those seeds. 🤗

[@growitbuildit]

Fair enough!

[@donnamccall8063]

Couple things-you did not mention stratifying--if it is needed with this type of seed. Also where is it stored and what temp if not stratified. PS it is "anyway" not "anyways"-just a bit of edit offerred.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - most Penstemon species need about 30 days stratification. And they like to be pressed into the surface of the soil, and germinate best in cooler temps in early Spring.

[@donnamccall8063]

@@growitbuildit how do you stratify?

[@growitbuildit]

It's where you simulate winter for the seeds by putting them in a cold moist medium. I made a video showing how I do it. For Penstemon, you should either do the paper towel stratification or winter sow the seed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHrKipiaqqmcg5Y

[@donnamccall8063]

@@growitbuildit ah ok good-thank u. I am harvesting several natives this year, and knew “about” stratification but not the specifics! Appreciate it much 😊

[@SecretNinjaUnicorn10]

@@donnamccall8063it’s “thank you” not thank u 😉

[@executivesteps]

OK. We’ve had plenty of rain (2.5” just last night) during the week (4-5” total) so the gardens seem happy.

[@growitbuildit]

Yeah - our May was completely dry. Only had one day of rain the whole month. That finally broke in June.