Beginner questions: Any value in seeds from bulb plants?

I've never given much thought to the seeds that bulb plants generate. Is it worth harvesting them?

Also, I'm particularly wondering about some from my Muscari Aucheri Mount Hood Grape Hyacinth, which the plant files says "Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds" AND "N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed." There are seeds on them, but would anyone want seeds that won't generate true daughter plants? Or should I just leave 'em where they are?

So I have a general question about seeds from bulb plants being worthwhile to harvest and sow, and a specific question about seeds from my Mt. Hood muscari.

Thanks in advance for your kind assistance!

Mary

Lily seeds are often viable and are used to cross different cultivars and varieties. Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis) seeds are usually abundant and help spread the plants by self seeding or by grower purpose. Gloriosa (up side down lily) are used for propagation purposes. Mirabilis (4 o'clocks) self seeders keep them in my garden (while the actual tuber never survives the winter here).

Thanks for the info, and the tip about mirabilis is especially interesting, since I've been meaning to put some into my garden but I'm always a bit hesitant about annuals, and I'm in the same climate zone as you. So that's good to know!

Mary

You can collect the seeds or just allow them to drop... sometimes grape hyacinths will reseed, although it will probably take a few years for the new ones to bloom... but it's unlikely that the seedlings will have the coloring of Mt. Hood, so if you don't want a mixed look, then just deadhead them.

I collected the seeds but I know a lot of them dropped before I got around to it, so I guess I'll see eventually! And given my disappointment with the color of the Mt. Hood (NOTHING like the pretty photos, completely pale and ordinary), maybe I'll get lucky!

I grow a lot of bulbs from seed, but they are generally species not hybrids. Very many of the bulbs bought from nurseries etc are hybrids and as everyone has said the chance of getting the same flower is not very good. Seeds to a flowering bulb can take quite some time, seldom less than 3 years.

I was looking at some of the hybrid crinums and clivias. These have taken quite some dedication and time.

Gloriosa are known here as flame lilies and were the emblem of travel in Rhodesia now Zimbabwe. Very easy to grow from seed - doesn't take too long. Not true bulbs.