How to Save Echinacea seeds: quick and easy way for how to save coneflower seeds

How to save cone flower seeds. See how to harvest/collect seeds from Echinacea flowers.
3 minutes of work = hundreds of seeds. Learn the easiest and fastest way to save Echinacea/Coneflower seeds.
COMPLETE GUIDE for how to grow Purple Coneflower. Lots of detail and information, conditions, pests, companion plants.
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Like Black Eyed Susans? We made a video (with a different process) showing you how to save those seeds too. It's is a really cool way to get just the seed, no chaff. Check it out here:
• How To Save & Collect ...
This video shows you the easiest method to harvest and collect Echinacea purpurea seeds (purple coneflower). After cutting/drying seed heads for about a week, you will learn to separate and harvest the Echinacea seeds in about 3 minutes (for approximately 30 seed heads). There will be some chaff, but that won't harm your seed at all.
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[@wolrdtraveller]

Your videos are the least chatty, most useful information out there for getting great results. Thank you for making great content!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much - please tell your friends about me!

[@20dodgeram]

This is my first time saving coneflower seeds, once i came across your video i stopped searching for more videos and did your trick. Best idea ever. Thank you so much for all the help and advise you give people with all of your videos. Thank you so much!!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - when you decide to save other flower seeds, you may find other species of interest here

[@eleanorrigby2923]

I paid $3 for 10 seeds and only 7 sprouted. Harvesting my own from now on. Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

Amen to that! I love saving my own seed. Save tons of $$$.

[@MaysMusic1]

7/10 is actually a solid germination rate… - a botanist

[@salzigkid]

Wow you got fleeced hard. Live and ya learn!

[@kristaaustova9743]

@@MaysMusic1 😊 taky si myslím 7/10 považuji za super

[@laurenandreas5950]

You made my day! This is my first year growing cone flowers and I’ve been saving the dry flower heads but I had no idea how to get the seeds out of that poky thing! Thank you soo much!!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Lauren! This is by far the best way to harvest Echinacea seeds! It's so easy

[@gracesoborski1889]

Wow wow wow. Easy! My mom has been growing them for years, now I know how to harvest & have some for my own garden. A piece of my mom in the beauty of her favorite flowers. Thank you!!!

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome Grace - enjoy and good luck!

[@mountainvibes2026]

What a innovative way to collect the seeds ! You could deff do this with chive seeds too . Last year it took me forever to get the seeds out! I’ll be trying this way this year and you get all the well deserved credit ! Love it.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful, and let me know how it works for chives.

[@alien6091]

This is genius! Until now, I've been harvesting my seeds by hand picking them. I'll try this method next time I harvest, thank you! :)

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - this way is much easier! Good luck!

[@carinlyons9507]

Your video inspired me to try growing from seed and so far it's been a great success! The seedlings are just getting their second set of leaves and I'll be transplanting them before long. Enjoy your channel very much, thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent Carin - congratulations on your seedlings. Growing from seed is the way to go - you just need to have patience, but it is so economical!

[@309evita]

Should I plant these seeds this fall or wait until spring?

[@samme1024]

Thanks! It's my first year with an echinacea plant and I look forward to many more plants and years. 😁🌸

[@growitbuildit]

You're going to have a lot more plants now! Enjoy Samm.

[@Heyblomharvest]

I’ve never had much luck buying viable echinacea seeds so I bought some seedlings this year and looking forward to harvesting and saving my own seeds

[@growitbuildit]

You're going to get a lot of them - good luck!

[@BirdsPawsandClaws]

Straight forward easy method to get the seeds from a plant. Thanks for the video!

[@growitbuildit]

You are quite welcome. This method is the best - no poking your fingers on the hard spines.

[@lemontea128]

Best method I’ve seen! Easy n no prickling of fingers! 😄

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I agree, this is the easiest way to save the seeds! And it's quick and clean.

[@MK-gy1ug]

Great video. Thanks. I had my coneflowers planted in July and after a hot summer in zone 6b many turned black and died... so If I were to remove seeds from the dead coneflowers do I store them and when do I plant them to germinate and produce more flowers?

[@growitbuildit]

Thanks MK. I'm glad you found the video helpful. To answer your question, you can store the seeds in ziplock bag if they are fully dry. Or in an envelope. Keep them somewhere out of the sun and at room or cool temperatures, and dry (no musty basements). For how to grow and germinate the seed, I've written a step by step guide at our website. There is also a short video in the article. growitbuildit.com/how-to-grow-coneflower-from-seed/ I hope this helps! Let me know if there is any other questions.

[@MK-gy1ug]

Thanks for your reply. When the heads turn black in the fall- should I cut them off and then use the seeds to sprinkle around the garden... I’m thinking maybe in October being that I live in the east coast. I watched your video but wasn’t sure about October being the right time to sprinkle those seeds.

[@growitbuildit]

You are correct. When the heads are brown/black. Also, when the stems turn brown where it attaches to the head. But also, and this is important, if you start to notice bird damage on the heads you should consider getting them right away. Birds really like to eat the seeds.

[@woody3476]

Not a bad method man. You just earned a new subscriber

[@growitbuildit]

Thanks man. I appreciate the support!

[@AtlantaHospiceRN]

Stellar! Sharing w my southern gardening friends!!!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm really glad you found it helpful!

[@jessicapinto3817]

Ohhhh, I just threw them in this spring and had no idea of these details! Now I know why they didn't grow 😄

[@growitbuildit]

There is always next year!

[@jessicapinto3817]

@@growitbuildit yup! And your video will help, defo, thank you for sharing!

[@gh0stblood]

Thank you!! Excited to save seeds and gift them 😊

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome!

[@carenallen5841]

Wow..much easier then the way I did it befor

[@growitbuildit]

You're welcome Caren! Good luck for next time

[@donaldgriewank8087]

Wow, wish I had seen this last fall. Great info. Thanks.

[@growitbuildit]

Just wait till Fall and you can score all the seed you'll ever need.

[@sunrise1304]

OMG! Wow finally someone with good info! What an amazing way to collect the seeds! My echinacea is growing amazingly well but now I can start from scratch! Cheers !

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you sir! I'm happy you found it useful. This method is soooo much easier than ripping apart the seed heads by hand!

[@BramptonGardener]

Omg I wish I'd watched this an hour ago hahahhahahha. I was getting poked like crazy and making a mess, thinking there has to be a better way. Hahahha thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

Lol - I know the feeling. Getting tired of ripping them apart....sorting through the chaff.

[@patriciamolloy196]

We’re can I get these seeds l live in northern lreland thank you

[@growitbuildit]

@PatriciaMolloy they are normally available on Amazon

[@pmanfred1]

Awasome! You save me from the crazy method I’ve had til now! Thanks a lot!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Pablo! I'm very happy I could help you out!

[@iamacraftymama]

Fantastic. I'm definitely harvesting this year.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - good luck to you!

[@kristaaustova9743]

Výborná vychytávka děkuji

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome - good luck saving your seeds!

[@alenapoupa5925]

So simple and effective! Thank you! ❤

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Alena!

[@EyezLikaFox̌]

When should i start them indoors in CT for next year? Id like to line my fence with these and bee balm for the pollinators nexr year. The couple plants i have right now are a huge hit!!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - these seeds don't require any stratification. I would just start a few seeds in 4" pots outside in early March. They could then be transplanted in ground sometime in May. You shouldn't expect blooms until the second year. And the plant should be really big by year 3. I have a detailed "how to" at our site here: growitbuildit.com/how-to-grow-coneflower-from-seed/ Just make sure you protect the young seedlings from rabbits and deer. I use liquid fence, and it works great.

[@jenniferlonergan8481]

@@growitbuildit Does the liquid fence protect against squirrels, in your experience? For some reason, squirrels love to bite off the flower heads in full bloom and leave them on the ground. :(

[@growitbuildit]

I have never had a squirrel problem like you describe. But I would say it is worth a shot. Concentrated rotten eggs is the main ingredient

[@kujo1725]

@@jenniferlonergan8481 realize this comment was made a year ago, hopefully you have already found a solution to your problem... If not (I'm in Va) I do wonder if it's actually the squirrels that are the problem. My neighborhood is full of Oaks and as a result full of squirrels aswell lol and I had the same issue where something was biting or snipping rh heads off my flowers and leaving them either dangling or on the ground below. Because of our massive amount of squirrels I instantly assumed that they were the culprit. However after intently watching (to the point my neighbors likely assumed I was a bit off in the head! Haha) I realized it was NOT the squirrels. To my surprise... It was actually birds! Granted this was not specifically on my coneflowers at the time , though they do manage to sporadically get a few of those too, they seemed to focus mainly on my tulips in the spring (snipping them off before the bloom even opened!) But move on to other flowers throughout growing season. After a lot of research trying to figure out why, the best guess I have is some type of pest... And it's not that the birds themselves just hat the flowers, but that they recognize there is/are insects either burrowing in them or eating on them. One suggestion was a type of cut worm,but I've actually seen the birds (usually diff species of song birds) so I assume it's an insect that is within the stem itself, and the birds are then getting to them. Using some organic generic pesticide around the base of the flowers though seems to have dramatically taken care of the problem.. applied the first year and by the second didn't have to apply anymore as the problem was gone... Whatever it was lol I tend to try and avoid pesticides at all cost (great advice I once got: If your plants aren't being eaten even a little bit rhen they aren't a part of the food web!) However it has gotten so bad it almost defeated purpose of having them to begin with lol So if addressing the squirrels doesn't take care of the problem, definitely suggest trying that route. Best of luck!

[@nixonsmateruby1]

I'm in the UK and love these flowers and hope to just have these around my lawn. I want to know if I buy seeds and just scatter them will they grow just as would happen in the wild. You see information about planting seeds in spring but the plant doesn't, it makes seed and nature grows them.

[@growitbuildit]

They can germinate if you just scatter the seeds. Just know that some will be lost to birds/rodents eating them

[@carenallen5841]

That’s great I have a lot o echinacea heads….that I have to shake up. I was wondering how to get them off because they’re picky. Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome Caren!

[@Thankful_.]

I’m learning so Much from your YT channel. Thank you! 🌼🌸🙂

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome V! I'm happy you are finding it helpful!

[@rickswift4268]

OMG so easy but very effective and effective

[@growitbuildit]

Thanks! Hope it saves you some time! Thanks for watching! We have a bunch of articles, too, on the blog growitbuildit.com/ about saving seeds.

[@popcorn4465]

Brilliant thank you i really learnt something today :)

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! Good luck saving your seeds.

[@sergiouni2]

thanks for the video, just to make sure, we need to wait until the plant is all dried ?

[@growitbuildit]

If it is looking brown/black, then it is ready. You should be able to just tap the seed head and have some seed dislodge

[@frugalmrsolson1]

This saved me so much time. Thank you

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Debbie! Good luck germinating the seeds .

[@ithirstyforknowledge]

Thanks. Please also show to grow them.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I will be having a video later this year on the entire life cycle. But, if you want to learn how to grow these you can check out our article here for growing purple coneflower: growitbuildit.com/how-to-grow-coneflower-from-seed/ It gives step by step instructions on how to germinate the seeds. My method works, I've germinated hundreds of seeds over the years. I'll try to remember your comment and update you when the video comes out in a month or two.

[@lynnebalzer5520]

Great tip! Thanks.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - glad you found it helpful!

[@jeremypearson6852]

Excellent, I only got one flower on my echinacea last year but this year I have six or seven. I’m going to try this since the seeds are expensive to buy for my variety.

[@growitbuildit]

Nice! Just know that if you are taking seed from a hybrid, it may not produce the same plant. If your variety is a cultivar, then you should be good.

[@kansascityonline]

awesome tutorial.. thanks much!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome!

[@treckten]

Will this method work for black eyed Susan seeds as well?

[@growitbuildit]

Yes it does.

[@treckten]

Growit Buildit Great....Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Hey - I made a different method for Black Eyed Susan Seeds. You should have a look. It completely removes that chaff! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnLMhGWvlKuCetU

[@treckten]

Growit Buildit nice! Thanks again!

[@tospicy4ya]

Will they not sow if there’re not black? I have one here it’s stem is green a little and not as dry as yours?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi, if the stem is still green then the seeds may still be drawing nutrients from the plant as they form. That is the reason I wait to collect them. But if you harvested when the stalk was still a bit green they would probably still germinate. Just maybe not as high a rate.

[@tospicy4ya]

Growit Buildit how long after the leaves 🍁 have gone will it take to go dry ?

[@growitbuildit]

​ @tospicy4ya Hi - hard for me to give a straight answer as I haven't ever paid close attention to the time to go completely dry after blooming. But typically it is about a month afterwards for most plants. At least, I start checking after a few weeks/month. Letting the seed mature should increase the viability. I will say this though, if you start to see damage from birds, or birds directly one them eating seed, you should either put some netting over them or just cut them off and hope that they are viable. Once the Gold Finches discover the seed....it doesn't take long for them to clean out most of them.

[@notflanders4967]

Thanks for sharing!

[@growitbuildit]

You're very welcome!

[@LittleIowa]

Can you just go back outside and throw the seat on the ground before winter hits?

[@growitbuildit]

You can, but some of it will get eaten by birds and rodents. But if you got a ton, then go for it.

[@charlesbale8376]

Enjoyed the video, thank you for sharing.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - it's a great method.

[@debbiehall485]

Thanks, so easy!

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome Debbie!

[@michelebushnik2874]

Do Echinacea seeds need a cold fridge period before planting? Winters here in Reno Nevada are cold.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Michele - Echinacea purpurea (common purple coneflower) needs no cold stratification of any kind. Other species of Echinacea do though, such as Echinacea pallida, Tennessee Coneflower, and Narrow-leaf Coneflower.

[@lulabelle4760]

I've always planted the whole seed head and nothing ever came up! Your method is genius! I happen to have several of those top of the line seed removal buckets! Would this method work for bee balm? I've always done it as above with no luck!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Lula! Good luck collecting. For Bee Balm, the same method does work, but red bee balm has many other difficulties. I detail them in this video. In a nutshell, the seeds can easily fall out of Monarda didyma, and they don't seem to produce much seed either. See here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5rIkHmqm66Hi6c

[@rmartinie]

Awesome 👏 Tytyty!! 😄 Simple 👍🏻

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Richard!

[@ILLWILL562]

Do you store the seeds indoors throughout the winter or out in the shed?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi, I store them indoors. A cool dry place is best for Echinacea purpurea seeds.

[@helenmillhouaw2143]

What about the colored cone flower. Can you seed and will it retain color

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Helen - if it is a 'cultivar', as in a natural mutation that has been propagated for sale, then yes. But if it was a hybrid, then probably not. You certainly could try though.

[@conniegraham7416]

Thank you for your videos, I've been watching them. Does this work for Echinacea Hybrida, Cheyenne Spirit? maybe a silly question.... but I'm not sure if this works for hybrid labelled plants?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Connie. It doesn't exactly work for hybrids. Usually a hybrid will either be sterile, or the seed will revert back to one of the parent plant genetics. But if your plant is a cultivar, then this would work just fine. And thank you for watching. I'm glad you are enjoying them.

[@conniegraham7416]

@@growitbuildit wow, good to know! Thank you. I had to look up and clarify what "cultivar" means ...I get it. Thank you again, Have a great day!

[@stevemiller7067]

What percentage of seeds will germinate next season?

[@growitbuildit]

In my experience a high percentage will germinate. But I've never taken data on Echinacea germination rates. They are pretty easy to grow, and if used the following year you should have very few 'duds'.

[@janiebarker2687]

Amazing Thank you ❤️

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! Good luck

[@taylorandr4]

Thinking of doing this and throwing the seedlings into random ditches or areas that seem like they could use a little love. Is that worth it or will the seeds fail?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Andy - if an area looks a bit disturbed, it can work. Go scatter them then walk on them. Otherwise, I've spread the plants the old fashioned way. Just growing some or letting the 'volunteers' grow a bit, then transplanting in Spring or Fall. You could try seed bombs too - that is where you get some slightly moist clay/dirt, and press the seed into it, then let it dry. You can then toss the 'seed bombs' to areas and they will have a decent shot at germinating.

[@hera6341]

You have saved my fingers! Those heads are pokey!!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Hera!

[@MaryPoppins-tu1ms]

I was sure that those pokey things are the seeds. Now I know how they look

[@crazycatlady1313]

Once you have them in the zip lock then what do you do with them?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - you just store them until you are ready to plant in Spring. Somewhere cool/dry and out of direct sunlight.

[@crazycatlady1313]

@@growitbuildit OK Thank you 😊

[@mlr080965]

have you had any issues ( mold) with keeping your seeds in plastic?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi, you just need to make sure the seed is dry! Leave it in a cool dry place, like a closet for a few days before bagging it up. I just put seed heads into a brown paper bag, then toss them in a closet for a week. That dries just about everything out well.

[@angelapolly1]

How do you store the seeds? What time of year do you plant them?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Angela, when dry they can be stored in a plastic bag in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight. Plant them in early Spring about 1/8"-1/4" deep.

[@angelapolly1]

@@growitbuildit thank you kindly!

[@globi1017]

So once you have these seeds you plant them early in the spring? Or when? Do you plant directly in the ground or in little peat pots?

[@growitbuildit]

Echinacea purpurea (common purple coneflower) have no special germination requirements. So you can start them in pots and then transplant outside once they get several sets of true leaves. Or, direct sow in Spring works well too. As of now (early July), it is definitely early enough to start some new plants.

[@kg1703]

When would I sow these seeds in zone 4?? Love your channel!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi KG, you can sow them any time once the temperatures start to warm up in the Spring. Echinacea purpurea needs no cold stratification. Other Echinacea types should be winter sowed though.

[@melrohde7230]

Seems like my seeds are so thin, like shavings is this normal or was I too rough?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Mel - It sounds like you were either too rough, or perhaps the seeds were immature.

[@nancytipping7264]

How do you store them over the winter? Or do you plant them in October?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Nancy - I make sure they are completely dry and store them in a plastic container, zip lock bag, or just an envelope. You can plant them in October too, but you run the risk of rodents or birds eating them.

[@nickpate8652]

Can this be done with any coneflower? Like the other color/hybrid ones?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Nick - it can be done with any coneflower. But - if it is a hybrid, then you should get one of the 'mother' plants used to make the hybrid. If it is a cultivar, aka a naturally reproducing funny color, then you get the same plant.

[@darcywilki7202]

@@growitbuildit Do you know if the cultivars have any nectar because I have a red coneflower cultivar and I've never seen anything on it ever. I'm guessing it was bred just to be EyeCandy for the grower.

[@growitbuildit]

I really couldn't say for sure Darcy. But if nothing visits the flower it's probably a good indication that it isn't that valuable for the pollinators. You should plant a straight species next to it and compare the activity.

[@JackieHagge]

American Yellow Finches LLOVE LOVE LOVE echinacea and coreopsis seeds. The only time I see them is when I don’t dead end and harvest the seeds. I guess I’ll do half and half? 🤔

[@growitbuildit]

Going for half and half is a good strategy!

[@don-cw1yz]

Can you harvest seed from plants that have overwintered in the garden?

[@growitbuildit]

Yes, if the seed is still there, then by all means.

[@don-cw1yz]

@@growitbuildit Thank you for the quick reply. I will give it a try.

[@AmyRector]

You are awesome!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you gypsea! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@Palmtreepeace]

When do you plant them?

[@growitbuildit]

You can start Echinacea purpurea (most common type of Purple Coneflower) anytime. Other Echinacea species generally need to be planted in Winter, or at least experience a period of cold stratification.

[@trivo2688]

Đáng tiếc là Việt Nam không có hạt giống hoa Coneflower để mình có thể trồng, hoa rất đẹp, mình mong rằng sắp tới mình sẽ trồng được nó để bổ sung cho khu vườn của mình

[@nicolemazza1971]

🤔Can I snip them and set them to dry in a paper bag when the petals die back but the head hasn’t turned black yet?? I think the birds are getting all my seeds when I leave them to turn black😢

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Nicole - it is better to wait for the flowerhead to turn brown/black, as it allows the seed to mature on the plant. Cutting them early risks the seeds viability as it may not fully form. There are small mesh bags with a drawstring you can buy to put over the heads. I do that with some species and they work great. They are here (affiliate link): amzn.to/3c3KEFK

[@binhminh417]

Thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Binh! I'm glad you found the video helpful.

[@ernestomuslar3293]

Good morning my brother please how are you doing today please do you sells echincea seeds? And please what other herbal seeds you have?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Ernest, I'm sorry but I do not sell seeds.

[@SoulBotanicalFarms]

Thank you very much!!

[@growitbuildit]

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

[@PilotCristina]

Are they easy to grow?

[@growitbuildit]

Yes - they aren't difficult at all. This article tells you how to plant the seed, and other info. growitbuildit.com/echinacea-how-to-grow-purple-coneflower/

[@carolsparrow9331]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Carol.

[@muriel7679]

Hello Seeds are getting expensive. So I try to collect them in my garden or from my neighbours. But for echinaceas, the babies are not always like the mother. I suppose this is due to hybrids. In the US, there are many colors and sizes. We are very limited here in Swizerland.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - you are most likely correct in regards to the babies not being like their mother due to hybridization or cloned cultivars. I've got to tell you though, the original straight natives are often the best for pollinators.

[@teresaellis895]

I've pulled entire seed head and stuck in ground in fall...also seed saved and planted in spring..I've also literally just scattered..with black eyed Susan and serums..prob easiest ,no work..hardly a need to water combination.

[@growitbuildit]

They are incredibly low maintenance flowers

[@astroradha7124]

you can do the same with black eyed susans. Both Echinaecea and BES are bee magnets

[@growitbuildit]

Absolutely - it works for all the plants with disc-flower heads.

[@Neyobe]

Thank you

[@growitbuildit]

You are quite welcome!

[@DMSATL]

Thanks for the video. This year I had to purchase a packet of seeds as my plants did not return 😢. This will be helpful for the year the seedlings bloom. Regarding packaged seeds, the package I purchased gives an option to sow either in the Spring or late Summer. In your experience, is one time of the year better than the other? If the mature plant self sows so readily, would late Summer into Autumn be preferable? Your website discusses starting seeds in trays. Is it just as effective to direct sow? If so, any tips? Thanks.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - if you can protect the seedlings from Rabbits and Deer, then Spring is the way to go. Your plant will have a full growing season in the ground and add a lot of root mass. It would therefore bloom more the following year than if it was started in late summer. As far as starting in trays vs direct, I prefer trays. Direct sowing does work, but you always have a risk of birds or rodents sniffing out and eating the seed.

[@ginboy22]

Awesome!!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Roxy

[@AcornHillHomestead]

I make little envelopes out of 3 x 5 index cards and write on them. Keeps them safe and dry 😂

[@growitbuildit]

That works too! Good idea.

[@pamelamarshall6129]

Thank u sooo much u just saved my hands from torture lol

[@growitbuildit]

I know the feeling! You are quite welcome.

[@cynthiacar4370]

Why does the plant need to be completely dead and black? Will it work if I just dead head the spent flower once it’s done and then let them lay out to dry for a couple weeks, then remove the seeds?

[@growitbuildit]

The seed usually takes a while to fully form after blooming. And I think that it needs to stay connected to the stalk for this to happen. But, it doesn't hurt to try with some. If you do it and get them to germinate, please tell me because I would like to know!

[@woody3476]

Its best to let them completely die and dry out on the plant itself to fully disengage its absorption of nutrients to the most of its ability. You may get seeds still if you deadhead early, but would you rather grow from a seed thats 95% fertile, or 100%?

[@adiposerex5150]

I leave the seeds for finches through the fall and winter.

[@growitbuildit]

That is what we generally do too. But I find by November they are pretty much all gone.

[@gregkasza1925]

It can’t actually be this simple? I thought I tried something similar in the past with no success. I’ll give it a shot.

[@growitbuildit]

Yes, it is this simple. Give it a try!

[@omaeve]

My girlfriend had a long steep driveway and on the way down to the mailbox she would deadhead her echinacea and throw them 10 to 15 feet in the woods and fields alongside the road going down and she just had just thousands of echinacea

[@growitbuildit]

That sounds really cool.

[@robertabell7772]

Please leave some for the birds.

[@donnabarbour5358]

So now what? winter sow?

[@growitbuildit]

At this point in the growing season, I would winter sow the plant. I'm on the border of zone 6/7. If you were further south, and felt you could keep the seedlings alive, you could sow now.

[@mdlanor5414]

So it’s not necessary to remove the chaff from purple cone flower seeds? Then just plant the seed along with the chaff? I do know how to grow from seed almost any plant. I’ve been wasting my by removing all the chaff for many years? This information will save me a lot of unnecessary work. Harvesting non hybrid flower,herb and vegetable seeds. I harvest only the seed heads,from my best flower and vegetable plants. I generally only harvest 1 seed head from each plant. The 2 seed heads give me plenty of seeds for the next growing season. Blacked Eyed Susan seeds are easy to grow from seed.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - the chaff will not harm the seed at all. Separating it makes it easier to know how many seeds you are planting, and that it looks cleaner, but that is all.

[@katew3808]

So much easier than how I was doing it. My fingers hurt !

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent Kate - I'm glad I could help you out!

[@lauramarti7548]

Dang it, the birds beat me to my seed this year!

[@growitbuildit]

Yeah - it happens. I was late getting to some seed on another species this year too.

[@angiem8434]

You know I planted the whole dried cone and didn't take the seeds out 🙄 my mom gave them to me and told me to plant them lol..she should have known I needed more direct directions lol..oh well..there is always next year.

[@growitbuildit]

You know Angie, I bet the seeds germinate inside the head. If you are very gentle, you can probably separate them.

[@ChrisWatkinsPortraits]

so cool! im going to harvest some this fall. thanks

[@growitbuildit]

You're welcome. Good luck!

[@lesliehadnott9141]

Thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! I have an easy process to germinate Coneflower Seeds here that you may find helpful too. growitbuildit.com/how-to-grow-coneflower-from-seed/

[@kristine6996]

Thank you 🌻

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome!