The Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) is a striking, sun-loving plant cherished for its long-lasting, brightly colored blooms and drought tolerance. This perennial is a reliable choice for low-maintenance landscapes. Propagating new plants from seed is straightforward, but requires knowing how to identify, harvest, and store the seeds correctly.
Where Seeds Develop and When to Harvest
Blanket Flower seeds develop directly within the center of the spent bloom, specifically in the central disc florets. This location is common among plants in the Asteraceae family. After the petals drop away, the central part of the flower remains on the stem, gradually drying and hardening.
A mature seed head changes color from green to a brittle, brown, or grayish-white sphere. The head shrinks slightly and develops a fuzzy appearance, signaling that the seeds have fully ripened. Harvesting takes place from late summer through the fall, once the seed head is completely dry. If the seeds readily drop out when the dried head is gently rubbed, they are ready for collection.
Detailed Description of the Blanket Flower Seed
The individual Blanket Flower seed is technically a small, hard fruit known as an achene. The seed body measures approximately 0.12 to 0.16 inches in length and possesses a wedge or funnel-like shape. Its color is usually a muted gray-brown, and the surface is often covered in small, ascending hairs.
The most distinguishing feature of the achene is the attached structure called the pappus. This is a crown of stiff, hair-like bristles or awns attached to the top of the seed body. The pappus is generally white or light tan, giving the unit a fluffy or feathery look that aids in wind dispersal. A viable seed is identified by its small, dark, hard base hidden beneath this distinctive, light-colored plume.
Simple Steps for Seed Collection and Storage
To begin collection, use a sharp snip to cut the dried seed heads, harvesting them on a dry day to prevent mold. Place the mature heads into a paper bag to allow for continued air circulation and drying. The heads should dry further for one to two weeks in a cool, well-ventilated area before separating the seeds.
After this drying period, release the seeds by gently crushing the dried heads or by shaking the material vigorously in a container. This action separates the achenes from the remaining plant material, known as chaff. The small, light seeds can then be separated from the debris by carefully winnowing (blowing lightly across the mixture). Store the thoroughly cleaned and dried seeds in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or sealed envelope, in a cool, dark location until the next planting season.