SEED COLLECTION

It's that time again when we can finally put all those stockpiled junk mail

envelopes to use. Why are we stockpiling envelopes? To store seed! They dry

well in paper and are unlikely to mold. We write the following on every envelope:

scientific and common name, date and location of collection, and provenance

(where that plant came from) if we know it. You can do the same! If you have

surplus, please share it with friends, schools or ANPP. We can accept and

redistribute your seed donations as long as the species is native and we have

information about them.

What seeds are: As native flowers get pollinated, their ovaries develop into fruit

that contain fertile seed. A seed is an embryo surrounded by nutritive and

protective layers. Once pollinated, flower petals fall and ovaries swell as the seed

stockpiles nutrients and a program is initiated to "lock down" the embryo to

survive a long winter. The rest of the flower browns and dehydrates according to

the program too. All that brown might look like death, but it's far from it. It's got

everything it needs get those embryos to spring.

What is provenance and why does it matter? Provenance is where the seeds

came from. For most ornamental plants, who their wild great grandplant was has

long been lost. But it turns out that for native plants, provenance matters. Why?

Inside the seeds are embryos that are as distinct from each other as babies in a

nursery. We can't tell looking at them, but there are local genetic differences that

strengthen the gene pools of native plant populations. The gene variants in

natives collected in Acadiana have been selected over centuries to be best

adapted to local conditions. That's why purple coneflowers from Virginia or Florida

aren't the same as ours. There may not be differences in survival in our gardens

that we can see, but there are likely to be important differences for pollinators and

tolerance of extreme weather events like floods and droughts. Local ecotypes

matter. It's just as important that we preserve as much genetic diversity in our

local ecotypes as we can. So collecting seeds isn't just about growing more

plants. It's also about conserving and expanding genetic resilience.

How do you know when your seeds are ready to collect? It's when the seed

coats harden and darken, which is accompanied by the drying out and browning

of the stem right under the dried-out flower. Species that flowered early are

already going to seed. Pick brown seed heads now from penstemon, purple

coneflower, Texas star hibiscus and baptisia as they dry and turn dark on the

plant. Iris seed pods may be harvested this month while they are still green.

Mamou is ripening now (when pods split open), as the white or red seeds can be

pulled from the dark dry seed pod. If you plant them fresh, they will germinate

quickly. If you save them to plant later, you have to scarify or break the hardened

seed coat for germination. Buckeye seeds are encased in a leathery brown husk

and can be harvested in the fall. When the husk breaks apart, or the seeds fall to

the ground, the big brown seeds are ready. Plant them in the ground or a 1 gallon

pot right away. They will last in the refrigerator longer, but soak them before you

plant. They germinate quickly and grow slowly. Try not to collect all seeds your

plants produce. Nature makes plenty for both reproduction of the species and

wildlife that depend on them for nutrition.

ANPP is requesting seed donations of these species if you have extra! We are

running low on seeds of some key plants that we just can't keep in stock because

you guys buy all the plants for your gardens! Way to go! Winecups (Callirhoe

papaver and C. involucrata), bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana), all species of

milkweed (Asclepias), all species of Liatris, Indian pink (Spigelia marylandica),

copper iris (Iris fulva), fire pink (Silene virginica) and rosepink (Sabatia angularis).

email us at mail@greauxnative.org or drop off your seeds at our greenhouse on

Tuesdays from 9am-noon.

How to Collect and Store Seeds Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center