Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - July 16, 2014

From: Annapolis, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Non-Natives, Propagation, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Starting Yarrow (Achillea) and Daucus from Seed
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I need to deadhead my cottage yarrow. I assume it has gone to seed. What do I do to plant it as seed? If I can do it, can I do it now or do I need to wait until spring. If I need to wait until spring, how do I store it over the winter? I have a pile of Queen Anne's lace, too, and I want to do the same. We have been planting a lot of native flowers this summer for the first time. I want to figure out how to spread it instead of having the landscapers dump it into landfill (and spend less next summer). Starting it from seed much less expensive!

ANSWER:

A look through the internet for cottage yarrow turned up some references to this name being associated with the native plant, Achillea millefolium (common yarrow). It appears that florists often refer to Achillea millefolium cultivars as cottage yarrow.
Yarrow can be propagate from seed. Leave the flat-topped seedheads on the plant after they flower. The seed is light tan when it is mature.  The seeds will be mature in late summer or early fall. Collect the entire inflorescence (seedhead) and carefully tip it into a paper bag. Tie the bag around the seedhead and hang the plant upside down in a warm, dry location to fully dry.  Once dry, rub the seedhead lightly to release the seed from the chaff. Store the seed in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator until ready for sowing.  The Native Plant Network indicates that common yarrow seed will be viable for 3-5 years when stored properly.
You can sow yarrow seed in the fall outdoors if a garden bed is ready. Or the seed can be stored in the refrigerator and sown in the spring (indoors in seed flats or outdoors in garden beds).  Common yarrow is also very easy to propagate by dividing the plants. The plant produces underground shoots called rhizomes that often root and can be severed from the plant, potted up and grown on for later transplanting.
Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) is native to Europe, but has naturalized to North America and Australia.  Wikipedia has the following information about the seed production for Queen Anne’s lace.  "After fertilization and as seeds develop, the outer umbellets of an umbel bend inward causing the umbel shape to change from slightly convex or fairly flat to concave, and when cupped it resembles a bird's nest.
The fruit that develops is a schizocarp consisting of two mericarps; each mericarp is an achene or true seed. The paired mericarps are easily separated when they are dry. Premature separation (shattering) before harvest is undesirable because it can result in seed loss. Mature seeds are flattened on the commissural side that faced the septum of the ovary. The flattened side has five longitudinal ribs. The bristly hairs that protrude from some ribs are usually removed by abrasion during milling and cleaning. Seeds also contain oil ducts and canals. Seeds vary somewhat in size, ranging from less than 500 to more than 1000 seeds per gram."
Interestingly, there is a North American wild carrot, Daucus pusillus that is often mistaken for Queen Anne’s lace. Wild carrot blooms in flat clusters; when flowers pass, pedicels turn upward into a birds nest; when seeds ripe, spreads open again facilitating adhesion to passing animals.
Queen Anne's lace has a deep purple central flower.




 

From the Image Gallery


Common yarrow
Achillea millefolium

Common yarrow
Achillea millefolium

American wild carrot
Daucus pusillus

More Propagation Questions

Propagation of mustang grape
March 10, 2005 - I'm looking to plant several vines of mustang grapes near my parents retirement home in Beeville, TX (78102). I really have two questions - what's the best way to find them at a nursery or relocate...
view the full question and answer

Deadheading Asclepias tuberosa in Fishers IN
August 19, 2009 - My Asclepias tuberosa plants are flowering well in their second year and also have formed many seed pods. Since I don't need the seeds, will they bloom more if I remove them or is it unnecessary?
view the full question and answer

Transplanting trumpet creeper in Prairie City, IA
August 22, 2011 - I have a Trumpet Creeper that I would like to transplant. How do you do that?
view the full question and answer

How to graft muscadines?
June 07, 2013 - I have tried for the last two years, grafting my perfect muscadines to the native non-bearing vines. I have tried every method available to no avail. I usually get two or three leaves, then wilt and...
view the full question and answer

200 year old white oak with no acorns in Oregon City OR
April 26, 2010 - We have a white oak tree in our yard that is about 200 yrs old. We have lived in the house for 30+ years, and have never seen an acorn. We have had it pruned by an arborist, who said it is in good...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.