Most garden sites tell you to rip open the seed heads wearing leather gloves and using pliers. My method doesn’t need any of that, and if you harvest at the right time, it will give you hundreds of seeds…
After being fully dried, you can store the seeds for two years in an envelope or a sealed plastic container. But, continue below for my detailed method and video….
Echinacea also known as coneflower is a perennial flower that’s popular in gardens for its showy blooms and ability to attract pollinators. Many gardeners want to collect and save echinacea seeds at the end of the season, both for replanting and to share with gardening friends.
Saving echinacea seeds is easy to do with some basic steps. Here is a complete guide to harvesting and storing seeds from your coneflowers.
When to Collect Echinacea Seeds
Timing is important when gathering seeds Echinacea seeds are mature and ready for picking when
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The flower petals have all dried and fallen from the seed head
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The seed head has turned brown and dry
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Seeds are plump and come away easily when gently rubbed
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The seed stalks have stiffened and dried out
In most climates this occurs around 4-5 weeks after the flowers finish blooming, typically in late summer or fall.
Key tips for timing:
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For the largest seed yield, wait as long as possible before gathering. But don’t wait so long that seeds start dropping on their own.
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Pick a dry, sunny day to harvest seeds. Damp seeds are more prone to molding in storage.
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Check seed heads daily as they near maturity. Seeds ripen at different rates, so you may need to harvest in stages.
How to Collect Echinacea Seeds
Follow these simple steps for harvesting echinacea seeds:
Step 1: Snip Off Entire Mature Seed Heads
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Use hand pruners or scissors to cut each entire dried seed head off the stalk.
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Avoid pulling or twisting, which can scatter seeds.
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Place the seed heads into a paper bag or open container.
Step 2: Break Apart Seed Heads and Remove Seeds
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Gently crush the seed heads one by one over a paper plate or sheet of paper.
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Rub the broken pieces between your fingers to separate the chaff and reveal the seeds.
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Pick out the seeds and discard the dry petals and other debris.
Step 3: Spread Out Seeds to Dry Further
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Pour the seeds into a single layer on parchment paper or screen.
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Allow to dry for 1-2 weeks in a well-ventilated spot out of direct sun.
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Stir or turn them periodically so moisture evaporates evenly.
Step 4: Store Echinacea Seeds in Cool, Dry Place
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Place thoroughly dry seeds in paper envelopes or resealable plastic bags. Multiple small batches are better than one large batch.
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Label the packets with plant name and harvest date.
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Store in glass jars or plastic containers in the refrigerator or freezer.
Properly dried and stored, echinacea seeds remain viable for 2-3 years.
Seed Saving Tips for Strong Plants
Follow these tips to help ensure healthy, vigorous plants from saved echinacea seeds:
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Grow different varieties of coneflower at least 20 feet apart or cage plants to prevent cross-pollination.
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Allow some seed heads to remain untouched in the garden as food for birds over winter.
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Wash hands and clean tools between plants to avoid transferring diseases.
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Store seeds in a place with low, consistent temperature and humidity. Avoid repeated temperature fluctuations.
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Only save seeds from your healthiest, most robust coneflower plants. Weak plants produce weak seeds.
How to Start Echinacea Seeds Indoors or Outdoors
Echinacea seeds require light for germination whether started indoors or out. Follow these methods:
Indoor seed starting:
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Sow seeds shallowly in sterile seed starting mix 6-8 weeks before last spring frost. Cover trays with plastic domes to retain moisture.
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Place trays in bright sunny window or under plant lights on a 16 hour on/8 hour off schedule.
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Transplant seedlings outside after hardening off when soil warms up to at least 60°F.
Direct sowing outdoors:
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Prepare seed bed in full sun with loose, weed-free soil. Work in organic compost.
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Sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep in late spring when soil reaches 60°F. Space 4-6 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart.
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Water gently to avoid washing away small seeds. Thin seedlings.
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Protect young plants from slugs, snails and other pests until established.
Common Problems When Saving Echinacea Seeds
Issue | Cause | Solution
3 – Remove seed from the seed head
Right now is the BEST time for me to save Echinacea seeds! As you know, the “cone” or seed head is very sharp and unpleasant to handle. We are not going to use clippers to cut the seed head open to get the seeds out. Instead, we are going to do something much better…
Get a container that is at least 6” diameter by 6” tall, like an old plastic coffee can. Put a few seed heads in the coffee can, tighten the lid, and shake it really hard! The seeds will fall out of the cones after 10 to 20 seconds of shaking.
Then you can just open the lid, remove the (now empty) Coneflower seed heads. There will be mostly good, living Echinacea seed left in the can, along with a small amount of chaff. Now the seed can be left on a plate or somewhere cool and dry (not in direct sunlight) for another week or so to dry out.
If you don’t want some chaff mixed in with your seed then I have another tip. You can use a common kitchen strainer to remove the chaff. Just pour the seed/chaff mix in a strainer, and gently toss the strainer.
If you do this outside most of the chaff will either fall or blow away. If inside, much of it will fall through the strainer. This is entirely up to you. I don’t mind the chaff, but hey – to each their own.
2 – Collect seed heads
A couple of weeks after the flowers have bloomed, seeds will form. On Echinacea, there are actually two places on the seed head to collect seeds. At the base of each petal, and within the ‘cone’ of the cone flower itself.
You can pick the Echinacea Seed Heads when the seed head starts to turn brown or dry out. You should cut the seed head off either 5-6″ below the seed head. Or, carefully hold the seed head and cut just below it. Place these into a paper bag.
Before you harvest, you should let the seed heads dry out completely. After you separate the seeds, you should let the seeds dry for a week.
How to collect and store coneflower seeds
How do you save Echinacea seeds?
How to save seeds from Echinacea: Cut off seed heads when the blooms have faded and turned brown. Store & dry the seed heads in a paper bag. Knock the seeds off of the seed head using my method (described below & short video). Store the seeds.
How should chia seeds be stored and what is their shelf life?
The best way to store chia seeds is in a dry place, with little humidity and little light. They can last a long time, you just have to check that weevils do not form.
Can you save coneflower seeds from Echinacea?
It can be very exciting for home gardeners to experiment and see what comes up the following year! Saving seeds from echinacea is not difficult. To save coneflower seeds wait for the seed heads to form which resemble small cones. Then allow the seed heads to dry on the plant.
Should you harvest Echinacea seeds from hybrid plants?
While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s actually very important. You should only harvest seeds from native echinacea plants and not hybrids. This is because the seeds from hybrids are often sterile and hence incapable of reproducing. Once you’ve identified the perfect plants, use a quality pair of scissors to remove the seed heads.