Hi Dave, I don't really collect much seed, so I'll leave that to others to give you the best methods. I have started this by winter-sowing though, and it is super-easy. Actually, I haven't WSed any in about two years, because it reseeds in the yard and comes back on it's own. However, looking back over my records, I usually sowed it about mid-February. Again, very easy plant. You might want to try the winter-sowing forum for ideas on seed collecting. Lots of collectors over there! Good luck! :) Dee

Oh.... I would love some Water Hyssop. I had some but over the years it dried out and died. I raised a few cats and remember that they did stay dark and never got huge like other cats do. I looked it up in two of my books. One says that the cats are "Charcoal gray with small silvery-white spots and black branched spines." But my other book shows a picture with the black cat having little reddish dots at the base of where the spines come out. I forgot that they also use Lippia, also known as Matchstick or Capeweed as a host. I did see my first White Peacock last week. I will have to go see if I have any eggs on it. Thanks for posting this or I wouldn't have thought to look there. If I can find a picture of my WP cats, I will come back and show it. Did you ever find homes for your Monarch eggs, cats?

Good morning everyone and thank you for all of your responses. I will take a picture later of my little plant. Like I said in my second post, I did think it could be anise hyssop, and after reading all of your posts, really think it is, by the shape of the leaves and I'll have to go out and pinch some of them for the smell. I read that it only does well in zones up to 9, I'm in 10, so I hope I will get to see some of those wonderful blooms, and take some pictures of butterflies and bees among them as well. nckvilledudes ~ From that picture it does look like Anise Hyssop. I could have even read the label wrong myself. I have to go back into my seeds to see for sure. At any rate, I wrote it as Annie Hyssop on the plant tag in pot. Thanks for the link. gldno ~ I did check out Sweet Annie while googling and knew it wasn't wormwood. I've grown that before. CMK ~ I checked the Hyssopus officinalis and it isn't it, the leaves are more like Anise Hyssop. I wouldn't mind growing the officinalis, it's more for my zone. Nell ~ Cute story. I will pinch the leaves when I get outside later. Nancy ~ I sure hope this will grow for me down here. This plant sounds wonderful. Tom ~ I saw the Golden Jubilee online and it is gorgeous. such a lovely contrast between foliage and flowers. gonativegal ~ I hope it survives long enough to get some heads so that I can collect more seeds. I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Annie ~ Thanks for tip of using the leaves for a hot tea. I will definitely look into that, as we take herbs for our health. What a lovely vision the Sweet Annie wreaths around candles must have been for your daughter's wedding, and the added bonus of filling the air with it's fragrance. Thanks again everyone for your great responses and taking the time out of your days to do so. I appreciate that. We had some much needed rain last night, and more this morning. More is expected through the day and we are thankful. Hope you all have a great day ~ FlowerLady

The dead and dry stems can probably be pulled right off now especially if you already have new growth coming in which you should in zone 8 Penny