Here is the difference between a dried-out milkweed pod and one that is not. Credit: Richland Soil and Water Conservation District

MANSFIELD — Tree leaves beginning to change colors is a beautiful sign of fall.

Another sign of fall is seeing milkweed seed pods starting to dry out in preparation of being harvested.

Milkweed is the only host plant of monarch butterflies, meaning it’s the only plant monarch butterflies will lay eggs on and the only plant monarch caterpillars will eat. Milkweed also provides a food source for many other pollinators.

The Monarch butterfly population continues to decline and one of the reasons for their decline, is the lack of milkweed. An easy way to help monarch butterflies is to provide a habitat for them by collecting the seed pods and planting the seeds. If you don’t have space to plant the seeds, simply collect the milkweed seed pods and drop them off at Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD).  Each year the district partners with the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI) and county citizens to collect Common Milkweed seed pods to help foster habitats for Monarch butterflies. OPHI spearheads the collection each year and they work to get the word out about why monarch butterflies are disappearing and help partners create monarch habitat.

Drop off milkweed seed pods

Drop your milkweed seed pods off by Oct. 31 in the green and yellow container placed outside the Richland SWCD office located at 1495 W. Longview Ave., Suite 205 B.

Here are a few tips on how to collect Common Milkweed seed pods:

  • Become familiar with common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed. 
  • Pods will appear slightly gray, begin to dry, and have brown seeds inside.
  • If the center seam of the pod pops with gentle pressure, they can be picked.
  • Don’t collect pods that are already open, as they might be infested with insects.
  • Do not drop off pods that are damp because it can cause mold and damage to all the pods collected.
  • Please don’t rubber band your pods together. They can damage the equipment used to remove the seeds from the pods and we will be held liable.
  • Place collected pods inside the bin that will have a large paper bag. Do not keep your pods in the bag you used to bring them in. Instead, please add all common milkweed seed pods collectively in the large paper bag. 
  • Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you can deliver them to the Richland SWCD office.
  • Only collect from your property or property you have been given permission to go on; do not trespass.
  • Only collect from your property or property you have been given permission to go on; do not trespass.

During the winter, seeds from this year’s milkweed seed pod collection will be removed from the pods to be distributed for planting next year. If you want free milkweed seeds with planting instructions, you may pick them up from the hallway table found outside the Richland SWCD office.  

Have questions?

If you have questions about collecting milkweed seed pods or other Richland SWCD programs, please call 419-747-8685 or go to https://richlandswcd.net/residential/programs/.

Richland SWCD develops, implements, and assists landowners, government agencies and our partners with a wide range of natural resource conservation programs.

Programs and assistance of Richland SWCD are available without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, or veteran status.