I have heard many people comment that it is very difficult to collect Hepatica seeds. Either the seeds shed too quickly, or they stay green even when they are ripe, so the opportunity to collect is easy to miss, etc... Sure, ripe hepatica seeds shed even when they are green and, when they are ripe, drop when you touch them, but there are things that can be done. You can put a bag over the seed head when the flowers finish. Some people use organza bags, some tea bags. I use either organza bags or small ziplock bags that have many tiny holes poked in them. You can also use tea bags and staple them to secure. It is very important to make sure to mark the bags with the name of the flower or what you crossed when you put them on, so you know what seeds you have after you collect.
It is best to sow the seeds as soon as possible, but you can store them in a mix of damp vermiculite and small perlite. The seeds will start to turn brown, but as long as they are in the damp (not soggy) mixture, you can keep them for a long time. I usually send my seeds this way to my friends. However, I also have very good luck with seeds that look dry if I sow them within a couple of months. (Soak the seeds before you sow). I even have decent luck with dry stored seeds, but you need to expect that they will take longer to germinate. There is no doubt that fresher is better. My point is that if dry-stored seed is the only option, there is still some hope...
When you sow the seeds in late spring immediately after harvesting, germination will take place late the following winter (9-10 months). However, even fresh seeds can take a couple of years to germinate and some of them even more. I have had seed that finally germinated four years after sowing. It takes a lot of patience to grow Hepatica from seed, but I believe it is the best way to learn and understand how to grow them in your garden.
