Hi Pati! It is not a specific time that seeds are harvested but is specifically when the pods on your bush begin to open. Take a look at the pictures and comments at the online link I provided below:
Better to shake the seeds a few weeks after bloom, wait for the babies to emerge and transplant them. If you want to propagate from seed and don't have any plants in your yard, watch after bloom for the seeds to mature. In NV, it sounds silly but we use pantyhose. Take a nice large stem that is blooming, put about a 1 ft. end of cut pantyhose around the branch, tie it off with twist ties and wait for the seeds to develop. This is what we do when collecting wild, native seed for reforestation and propagation. You can then return to the site at your leisure.
Janet is right. You should harvest the pods as they start to open, and lay them out in a dry area on paper to completely dry. Do not allow the seeds to get wet or damp. Once dry, as I remove the seeds, I inspect them to be sure there are no pests. I label mason jars with the date and name of the seeds, and store them in a dry, dark area.
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Butterfly bushes are very invasive. They are a perennial, but many states prohibit them.
Hi Pati! It is not a specific time that seeds are harvested but is specifically when the pods on your bush begin to open. Take a look at the pictures and comments at the online link I provided below:
http://stonewallsgarden.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-collect-butterfly-bush-seed.html?m=1
I have never had a butterfly bush, but, in general, the best time to harvest seeds is when the blooms dry and start to fall off.
Better to shake the seeds a few weeks after bloom, wait for the babies to emerge and transplant them. If you want to propagate from seed and don't have any plants in your yard, watch after bloom for the seeds to mature. In NV, it sounds silly but we use pantyhose. Take a nice large stem that is blooming, put about a 1 ft. end of cut pantyhose around the branch, tie it off with twist ties and wait for the seeds to develop. This is what we do when collecting wild, native seed for reforestation and propagation. You can then return to the site at your leisure.
Janet is right. You should harvest the pods as they start to open, and lay them out in a dry area on paper to completely dry. Do not allow the seeds to get wet or damp. Once dry, as I remove the seeds, I inspect them to be sure there are no pests. I label mason jars with the date and name of the seeds, and store them in a dry, dark area.
Thanks
You're welcome! I like pictures with information, too!