Milkweed Seed Pod Collection
Ends November 12
The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative and Franklin SWCD are calling on Ohioans for Milkweed pods! Since the project began in 2015, volunteers have collected tens of thousands of gallons of common milkweed seed pods, totaling over 22 million seeds! The seeds are sown by ODOT onto "conservation corridors", designated areas along highways that are planted with native prairie perennials.
Milkweed is the only host plant for the Monarch butterfly for egg laying and caterpillar rearing. It also serves as a food source for Monarchs as well as many other pollinator species. The disappearance of milkweed across the U.S. has contributed to the 80% decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years. We are working hard to change this, and you can help!
A large green collection bin with a yellow lid is located outside of our office at 1404 Goodale Blvd Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 from September 1 through November 12, 2023. Stop by anytime to drop off your BROWN seed pods!
Milkweed Seed Pod Collection Tips
• Make sure that before you collect seed, you become familiar with common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed.
• It is best to collect the pods when they are dry, grey, or brown. IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK THIS - DO NOT HARVEST GREEN PODS. If the center seam pops with gentle pressure, they can be harvested.
• Store the pods in paper bags; plastic bags collect unwanted moisture.
• Put the date and county collected on the bag when you turn them in.
• Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you can deliver them to the nearest collection site.
• Do not collect all the pods on a milkweed plant. Leave some pods (10-25%) on the plants so that seeds have a chance to naturally disperse and do their job as an important food source for milkweed bugs and other critters.
