It's a tulip shaded seed pod. Seeds are ready when pod has turned brown and beginning to open. Hold pod upside down over cup or other container,slightly rotate pod between thumb and index finger while apply gentle pressure to sides to loosen seeds from sides.

Peggy

Aaahhh okay, so those are the seed pods. They just aren't ripe yet. The seed pods are still green.

Will a frost harm them? We had frost two nights in a row, but it didnt bother my balloon flowers. Now the nights are warmer.

Danielle

Teh seed pods are ripe when they turn brown and at least when the stem to which they are attached turns brown. I don't think a freeze will kill them off because they are hardy perennials, but I have taken a few in when greenish and they dried indoors and produced lots of seed. Beware, one seed pod produces lots of seed.

I noticed that when I busted one open. A lot of seeds fell out. These plants bloom like crazy. It may be awhile before their stems turn brown. If I can get seeds from a blue and a white than that means less seeds to buy. I will only buy pink and lavendar seeds, and I am thinking of trying some of the doubles.

I was going to order them in bareroot again, but will try from seed.

Danielle

I have pink,if you'd like to set up a trade. Click on "My Page" then click on the link"see my home page" for my trade page.

Peggy

from The Seed Site:

Pod:

Seeds: "Small, black, shiny drops"

I have collected tons of purple seeds. I think I picked every single pod off of three or more plants.