Sarah, I do the Phlox the same as Coneflowers...cut the dead flowerheads back about 6" - 8" and hang upside down in a paper lunch sack for a week or two. Usually, the seeds fall out by themselves and are easy to capture. You can always "whack the sack" a few times to dislodge any stubborn seeds. Sure saves wear and tear on your fingers.

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Rosie z7a

The seeds are in the dried flower "head" that you would cut off just as you would deadhead any kind of dead flower. You won't see a distinctive seed pod. That's not a good definition but I can't think of anything really brilliant to tell you. I keep mine deadheaded to the point that I never have to worry about seeds so I can't even go out and take a picture for you.

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Rosie z7a

Yes...let those dry and turn brown before you harvest the seeds. You must be growing a different cultivar of Garden Phlox than I have. Mine have never put out seed pods like that.

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Rosie z7a

cultivator

Garden tools

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Not cultivator, Sarah...Cultivar. Now you'll have Bill thinking we're both crazy. lol!

A "cultivar" is a variety of a particular plant that has been given its own identity. For instance, Rose of Sharon is the common name for the cultivar Hibiscus syriacus, one member of the very large Hibiscus family.

I bet Bill can come up with a better definition but that should give you an idea of what I was talking about.

BTW, that is the same Phlox I have. I guess I never saw seed pods due to deadheading so early.

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Rosie z7a

I usually don't pick any seed pods until they are dried, brown and crispy, so to speak. You can be sure the seeds are ripe at that point.

Sarah, I've always said you have to be a little crazy to make it in this screwed up world we live in. I think my mom might have dropped me on my head when I was an infant. That's my excuse and I'm going to stick with it. lol!

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Rosie z7a