How to Harvest and Save Cosmos Seed

Sure, you can purchase new seeds each year at the nursery. But saving them is a simple process, and one that’s easy to master when you want to fill your garden with more cosmos.

I began my seed-harvesting journey with these flowers.

The seeds were staring me in the face, practically begging to be collected. Plus, I love this big, airy, colorful plant, so collecting more for sowing next year – and for free! – was a no-brainer.

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It took no time at all to gather handfuls of the seeds, and the following year I ended up with a long, full row of pink, white, and maroon blooms growing along my fence. My bees and a multitude of other pollinators loved it too.

If you have cosmos blooming in your garden this year, you’ve got to try it.

We’ve got you covered below, with all the information you need to ensure explosions of color for days from future plantings, for free.

Cosmos, with their vibrant colors and silently beckoning petals, are like a welcome mat for pollinators.

That’s one of the reasons why I toss handfuls of them into my wildflower garden each year, and I’m always excited to see their lacy leaves popping up from the ground.

The variety and number of pollinators and beneficial insects they attract satisfies my insect-loving nature and helps my garden out at the same time.

Don’t deadhead the faded blooms if you plan to harvest seed! Be sure to leave at least a few flowers of each kind you wish to save and that are past their prime intact on their stems, to give the seeds time to mature.

These beauties can cross-pollinate with other varieties, so if you wish to grow