How to Harvest Moss Verbena Seeds

Use a computer or look at a plant identification book to make sure the verbena you're going to use to collect seed from is indeed Verbena tenuisecta.

Choose a vigorous plant with characteristics of growth, foliage and flowering that you particularly like as your seed source. Put a plant marker next to the plant to identify it when it's out of bloom.

Monitor the progress of the flowers on the plant, letting the flowers dry after blooming. Notice the development of the seed-bearing ovaries directly below the old flowers. Check to see that these seed capsules are growing larger.

Snip off the old flower heads by cutting the stem beneath them with scissors when the seed capsules begins to dry and turn brownish. Have a paper sack handy with the plant name written on the outside in pencil. Put the gathered seed capsules in the sack as you pick them.

Put the sack in a cool, dry shady place to finish drying out completely. If there are many seed clusters, leave the top of the sack open and stir them every few days for the next two weeks. Check to see if the seed capsules are all dry and beginning to open a little at the top. If so, collect the seeds.

Shake the seed capsules upside down over a piece of clean white paper that has had lengthwise and crosswise creases put in it. After all seeds have been shaken out, fold the paper slightly along one of the creases and tip the seeds into a clean paper envelope that has the plant's name written on it. Seeds are small and tan. Harvest the material from the bottom of the paper sack, which will contain many seeds mixed with dried flowers and other debris. Put that in an envelope, too. Store seed envelopes in a cool dry place. Sow seeds outdoors in the early spring or indoors in late winter. Germination can be slow.