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Milkweed Seeds and Pod Collection
Milkweed is the most critical plant in the monarch butterfly's life cycle. The female monarch lays her egg exclusively on the milkweed plant and the larval caterpillars eat it until they change into an adult butterfly. Without milkweed, monarch butterflies cannot exist.
Over the last several decades, the population of monarch butterflies has decreased, in part due to the decrease in milkweed plants. You can help reverse this trend by planting this beautiful native plant in your own yard or collecting the seed pods in the fall to be harvested and planted in conservation plantings around the state of Ohio.
Check out the info below to learn more about our seed pod collection event and to learn how to raise your own milkweed.
Over the last several decades, the population of monarch butterflies has decreased, in part due to the decrease in milkweed plants. You can help reverse this trend by planting this beautiful native plant in your own yard or collecting the seed pods in the fall to be harvested and planted in conservation plantings around the state of Ohio.
Check out the info below to learn more about our seed pod collection event and to learn how to raise your own milkweed.
Milkweed Seed Pod Collection: Sept 1 - Nov 15
The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative is calling on Ohioans to collect Milkweed pods! This project started in 2015 as a 7 county pilot and has grown to include hundreds of Ohioans working together to collect approximately 200 lbs of common milkweed seeds, totaling over 22 million seeds!
All milkweed pods collected will be processed by OPHI partners and all of the seed collected will be used to establish new plantings and create additional habitat for the monarch butterfly throughout Ohio.
If you are interested in collecting, please follow these simple tips:
Thank you for doing your part to help this amazing butterfly.
All milkweed pods collected will be processed by OPHI partners and all of the seed collected will be used to establish new plantings and create additional habitat for the monarch butterfly throughout Ohio.
If you are interested in collecting, please follow these simple tips:
- Make sure that before you collect seed, you become familiar with the common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed.
- It is best to pick the pods when they are grey or brown and the seeds inside them are brown. The pod is ready to be collected when the seam of the pod opens with gentle pressure.
- Store pods in paper bags, NOT plastic (which can lead to mold growth).
- Put the date and location (including county) on the collection bag.
- Keep pods in a cool, dry space until you can get them to the Conservation District office.
Thank you for doing your part to help this amazing butterfly.
