How to Get Seeds From a Cypress Vine

The cypress vine, or cardinal climber (Ipomoea quamoclit) is an annual vine growing to 12 feet as it twines around garden plants, trellises or porch railings. It grows rapidly, covering a large area over the growing season, and is a good choice for a fast-growing screen. The cypress vine is suitable for growing in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 11. It is not frost-tolerant, but seeds produced the previous season sprout readily in the spring. The foliage of the cypress vine is light and feathery, and the bright red tubular flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Things You'll Need

• Small paper bag
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Wait until the cypress vine has produced blooms over the summer before collecting seed. Collect seed when brown papery seed pods begin to appear where each bloom was located.

2. Write the name of the vine as well as the date the seed is collected on a small paper bag with a permanent marker. Prepare to collect the seed before the vine is killed by frost. After the vine is killed by frost and the entire vine is brown or black, it is difficult to locate the mature seed pods.

3. Place the open paper bag under one of the matured papery brown seed pods located in various points on the cypress vine.

4. Use the other hand to collect the seed pods by crumbling the mature seed pods between the thumb and forefinger. Allow the hard black seeds to fall into the open paper bag held by the other hand.

5. Store the bag of cypress vine seeds in a dark and dry location at room temperature for up to six months.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Cypress Vine
• University of Minnesota Extension: Vines: Growing a Living Screen
• Floridata: Ipomoea quamoclit

Resources

• United States National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map