Taking seed heads from WalMart

Is it unethical, or stealing, to take dried seed heads from plants at WalMart?

You'll probably get different opinions on this, but technically speaking you shouldn't take seeds from anywhere without permission of whoever owns the property. Of course the chances of getting caught, or of them really getting upset that you're taking seeds if you do get caught (as long as you're not pruning off large chunks of the plant in the process) are pretty low.

Another thing to think about is the plant you are taking the seedheads from could very well be a hybrid so the seeds wouldn't come true anyway.

There was a great answer in Fine Gardening to that exact question.

Quoted from the Garden Guru

"If I understand you correctly, you want to take something that isn't yours without permission. What is the word for this situation? Oh, I remember: stealing. ....... The best approach I can offer you is to introduce yourself as an avid gardener madly interested in learning how to start that species from seed."

Just ask them before taking any seedheads....

flowagen, I totally agree!

you could always ask permission.

The proper thing to do is ask. I had the same dilemma with wanting seeds from the bluebonnets growing in the CHURCH yard across the road. I felt it doubly bad stealing from the church yard, however, one day I saw the maintenance man cleaning up in the yard and asked permission to pick some of the seeds, to which he replied, "Go ahead. Help yourself. I'm cutting down the plants anyway." It is also a good thing to become friends with salespeople in garden areas. Sometimes I find an orchid that has almost finished blooming and they will mark them down for you.

^_^ Experienced seed collectors will tell you to go ahead and take those dried seed pods. If someone is around ask ... if at a garden center you can say "some of your plants need deadheading .mind if I do some for you?

Last fall, while going to local yard sales (looking for a metal tonka truck for daughter's pre-k classroom) I harvested a lot of seeds ... I would say ..."Do you mind if ..." Gee they were thrilled to make me happy by saying ...GO RIGHT AHEAD! I made new gardening friends ...I did return to many of the places to share some of the special seeds that I had that they wanted.

You will find the following thread interesting and funny ... it is for SEED-A-HOLICS

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1136999/

MARY

1lisac: You bring up the most important point - the seeds may not come true anyways. This is true with 90% of annuals/perennials on the residential market today! They rarely grow true to cultivar.

I love the possibilites with trying seeds so I don't care if they look the same.

I like trying new seeds, however, I LOVE collecting clumps, tubers, and cuttings from plants. I've been known to pinch a branch or two from store plants (ONLY at wal-mart or other such locations -- never do it at a bonsai shop, for example, haha.) If anyone asks questions, just tell them you're a landscaper and they'll usually thank you! :D

Watch out for pest infestations from these places, however! House plants from walmart almost always have spider mites - at least, the ones I've been to. But then again, I only visit in the winter when I'm suffering from plant withdrawl :(

Would it kill you to buy the plant that is covered in seed heads and then try grow the seeds.
It is very tempting to just nip off a few seed heads, BUT, what if everyone did this, WalMart are not what you would call expensive ??? or is it the thrill of steeling that makes it more exciting ????
I know that I have a really large garden and as you can imagine, planting it with shrubs, trees and flowering plants is expensive, it is so infuriating when people have helped themselves to seeds, cuttings or even dug up plants when your away, IF these people had asked, there is every possibility I could have supplied them with rooted cutting, seedlings etc already in pots, and for free, you always propagate too many anyway.
How embarrassing would it be if in WalMart and were seen removing seeds etc and being pulled aside with a warning NOT to return to the store. OH MY GOD, I'd curl up and die. Good luck. WeeNel.

In my opinion, taking seed heads from a plant or two at walmart isn't really a big deal - these seed heads form as a result of neglect and usually make the plant harder to sell - so you're really doing them a favour in spending your own time to do maintenance on their product, which they themselves cannot afford to waste man-hours on.

Not personally a fan of taking seed heads (from Wal-Mart at least - I prefer quality plants!)- I'd just buy and divide the entire plant.

It's deplorable to even touch a private gardener's plot without asking - my sympathy, WeeNel.

Totally off the wall...maybe, but this reminded me of two articles a DG member wrote. Hope they give you a laugh.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/524/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/824/

Great articles Sheila, at least there is a bit oh humor added to them like tongue in cheek stuff that can be construed many ways, thanks for that and hope we all do the right thing for US, we should not be concerned IF Wal-mat neglects there plants or whatever, but I guess like all gardeners, IF asked, they are always ready to give cuttings, seeds or even plants that have served their use.
Happy gardening / shopping and good luck.
WeeNel.

I seldom purchase plants from big box stores. I frequent a local garden center that offers plants that put the big box store's offerings to shame ... and they undersell the big box stores .... the turnover of many plants is fast ... so if you see something you like, best to grab it then ... may not find it in again the next day or two. Very seldom see a seed head there ... but on the rare occassion I have spotted one, I will nip it for the owner and let him know during my purchase of other plants. He thanks me.

I can't imagine that anyone would take a cutting from a retail establisment or someone's garden. I have taken cuttings with permission from my next door neighbor.

I do think if you notice a shrub or plant in someone's garden that you would like to obtaining a cutting, if you ask, the owner will grant your request ... only did this once ...was at a yard sale ...noticed someone pruning a shrub at a nearby house and asked for a few cuttings .... then returned later to give them some of my recently harvested Red Leaf Maple (bloodgood) seeds with stratification instructions.

I do go to big box stores to purchase some gardening supplies that are priced much lower than those at my preferred garden center. There is where you will find many plants with seed heads ... and I have no reservations in openly deadheading the pods for seeds to share with others ... never had anyone object to my doing so.