How to Collect Seeds From Tickseed Plants

Overview

Tickseed, a common name given for the perennial Coreopsis cultivars, is a favorite among gardeners for its ease in care, long blooming life, and cultivation possibilities. Most popular for its bright yellow, multipetaled blooms, tickseed is also available in shades of red, maroon, gold, and combinations of the two colors. Once established, your coreopsis can give you blooms for generations and plenty of seeds to share with friends.

Step 1

Prepare to collect seeds any time throughout the season once the petals have died off the bloom.

Step 2

Pinch dead, dried blooms off your coreopsis. Doing this regularly, regardless of whether you are collecting seeds or not, will keep your plant blooming longer and more prolific. Energy not spent on seeding and expelling dead growth is energy spent on making more blooms.

Step 3

Shake one of your dried blooms carefully, listening for the sound of any loose seeds rattling inside. If you can hear them, they are dried enough to collect. If not, allow to dry a few days in a cool, dark place

Step 4

Tear the dried bloom apart carefully over a paper plate or directly into an open envelope, letting the tiny seeds fall inside. Coreopsis seeds are very small, about an eighth of an inch in length.

Step 5

Label your envelope with the color, name, and even location in your garden, if desired. Also date it so you know how old the seeds are.

Step 6

Store envelopes in a cool, dark place until the next April when you can propagate.