This comprehensive guide delves into the diverse world of seed suppliers, both within the United States and across the globe, catering to an array of gardening needs. The author, a self-proclaimed avid seed collector despite owning a seed company, shares their personal passion for discovering new varieties and companies each year. This curated list, enriched by contributions from readers worldwide, aims to introduce gardeners to exceptional seed providers for flowers, vegetables, perennials, wildflowers, cover crops, and even dye plants. The ultimate goal is to inspire readers to explore new possibilities for their gardens and share their own valuable insights.
Discovering Premier Seed Suppliers: A Global Perspective for Garden Enthusiasts
For gardening aficionados seeking to enrich their botanical collections, a detailed exploration of leading seed suppliers reveals a treasure trove of possibilities. This guide spotlights a selection of renowned companies, offering everything from rare heirloom varieties to innovative new breeds, catering to both commercial growers and home gardeners.
In the United States, a vibrant community of seed producers thrives. 3 Porch Farm, nestled in northern Georgia, stands out for its unwavering commitment to sustainability, offering unique cut flower seeds and heirloom chrysanthemums. Oregon's Adaptive Seeds, an organic enterprise, focuses on regionally adapted varieties, fostering biodiversity through collaborations with Pacific Northwest growers. For those dreaming of expansive wildflower meadows, Vermont-based American Meadows provides a vast selection and invaluable cultivation advice. Ardelia Farm & Co., also in Vermont, is celebrated for its exquisite sweet pea seeds, while Missouri's Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds boasts one of the nation's largest collections of heirloom vegetables, flowers, and herbs, championed by Jere and Emilee Gettle for their dedication to seed preservation.
Further west, Nevada's Blomma Flower Farm, led by zinnia breeder Tiffany Jones, specializes in developing pastel-hued zinnias and generously shares her expertise. Colorado's long-established Botanical Interests captivates with beautifully designed seed packets featuring historical notes and garden inspiration. In Santa Cruz, California, Kori Hargreaves of Dawn Creek Farm, a profound influence on the author's own breeding work, offers unique breeding varieties. Utah's Grand Prismatic Seed focuses on open-pollinated seeds grown organically, providing a unique range of dye plants, native desert species, and medicinal herbs. Great Basin Seed, a family-owned company in Utah, is a pioneer in land reclamation and habitat restoration, offering an extensive array of grasses, grains, and wildflowers. Near the author's home in Washington, Half Moon's Farm specializes in sweet peas and other cut flowers ideal for floral design. Vermont's High Mowing Organic Seeds is a trusted source for organic vegetable, flower, and herb seeds. Johnny's Selected Seeds, based in Maine, receives high praise for its comprehensive selection of seeds, tools, and technical growing information, reflecting the company's commitment to quality and innovation, particularly under cut flower seed manager Hillary Alger. On the Olympic Peninsula, Lunaseed Farm focuses on sweet peas and cottage garden favorites using regenerative practices. Oregon's enigmatic Peace Seedlings, known for its "delightfully old school" approach, offers diverse and unusual varieties, including "wild, psychedelic zinnia mixes." Minnesota's Prairie Moon Nursery curates the largest native plant collection in the U.S. for retail customers. California's Renee's Garden caters to backyard gardeners with thoughtfully curated flower and vegetable mixes. Iowa's Seed Savers Exchange champions the preservation of heirloom varieties, offering a vast collection and rich seed stories. Connecticut's Select Seeds specializes in rare, old-fashioned, and fragrant flowers. Southwest Oregon's Siskiyou Seeds produces many of its open-pollinated and heirloom seeds using organic and biodynamic methods. Boise, Idaho's Snake River Seed Cooperative, fosters regional seed systems with varieties adapted for high deserts. Just down the road from Floret, Songbird Seed Co. offers exquisite sweet peas and unique mixes. Oregon's Summertime Seed Co., an organic farm, provides a diverse offering of herb, veggie, and flower seeds. Wisconsin's Sunflower Steve Seed Co., founded by breeder Steve Kaufer, offers unique sunflower varieties like the 'Van Gogh's Fantasy Mix'. Northern California's Swallowtail Garden Seeds is a go-to for unusual flower novelties. Oregon's Territorial Seed Co. offers a good selection of garden flowers and herbs, backed by extensive trial data and helpful online resources. Philadelphia's Truelove Seeds celebrates culturally significant varieties grown by small farmers, supporting them through a generous profit-sharing model. Washington state's Uprising Seeds leads in organic flower seed production. Finally, Oregon's Wild Garden Seed, guided by mentors Frank and Karen Morton, is renowned for its prolific lettuce seed breeding and rare organic flower seeds. British Columbia's Windfall Flowers, led by biologist Barb, specializes in developing one-of-a-kind, muted zinnia varieties.
For international readers, several noteworthy companies are recommended. In Canada, Johnny's Selected Seeds ships its extensive range to Canadian customers. Renee's Garden Seed, based in the U.S., also offers shipping throughout Canada. British Columbia's West Coast Seeds promotes organic growing and sustainable agriculture. Ontario's William Dam Seeds offers a long list of specialty cut flower and herb seeds. Windfall Flowers from British Columbia also serves Canadian gardeners. Prince Edward Island's Veseys Seeds caters to home gardeners with a wide array of flower and herb seeds.
The U.K. boasts an impressive selection. Alma | Proust, a Sussex-based cottage business, offers easy-to-grow varieties suitable for floral design. Oxfordshire's Chiltern Seeds has provided rare specialty varieties since 1975. Essex-based English Sweet Peas, a family-owned company, is a powerhouse in sweet pea breeding, now incorporating the legacy of Roger Parsons. Somerset's Grace Alexander Flowers, founded by a former workshop scholar, offers sweet pea and natural dye plant seeds. Oxfordshire's Green & Gorgeous, led by farmer-florist Rachel Siegfried, curates a line of specialty seeds chosen for their "growability" and design attributes. Cornwall's Higgledy Garden sells seeds from flowers selected for their aesthetic and practical qualities. Johnsons Seeds and Woolmans offer a range of seeds, bulbs, and flowers. Essex's Kings Seeds provides a large range for commercial growers. Another Essex company, Moles Seeds, offers a vast range of flower seeds categorized for easy selection. Suffolk's Mr. Fothergill's caters to U.K. home gardeners with a great selection and detailed growing information. Kent's Nicky's Nursery serves both home gardeners and commercial growers. Suffolk's Plants of Distinction, a family-run business, specializes in sought-after cut flower varieties. Internationally renowned gardener Sarah Raven, based in East Sussex, has been a leading figure in cut flowers, offering extensive trials and inspiring catalogs. Devon's Suttons, founded in 1806, offers a wide range of garden seeds and tools. Suffolk's Thompson & Morgan, established in 1855, provides a broad selection of annual and perennial flowers. Cambridgeshire's Unwins, founded in 1903, continues to develop sweet pea varieties. Finally, Zoe Woodward Gardening in Buckinghamshire offers flowers for wedding design.
Across Europe, several companies provide diverse selections. Germany's Bingenheimer Saatgut offers only open-pollinated organic vegetable, flower, and herb varieties. France's Graines Voltz supplies seeds and plugs to the trade, with multilingual websites and catalogs. Germany's Jelitto provides an incredible range of perennial and biennial seeds, including many long-stemmed columbines. The Netherlands' Muller Seeds lists an extensive variety of cut flower seeds. Galway, Ireland's Seedaholic offers a staggering number of varieties, with detailed search categories. Belgium's Silene specializes in old-fashioned annuals and biennials. The Netherlands' Vreeken's Seeds, a third-generation company, caters to both home gardeners and commercial growers with a huge offering of flower seeds and mixes.
In Australia, gardeners can explore companies like Western Australia's Australian Seed, specializing in native Australian seeds. New South Wales' The Climbing Fig offers a great selection of cut flower seeds, browsable by color, season, and region. The Diggers Club, Australia's largest gardening club, provides a huge range of seeds and helpful growing information. Central Victoria's Lambley Nursery, known for David Glenn's emphasis on sustainable gardening, offers a great selection of cut flower seeds. New South Wales' Royston Petrie, a second-generation wholesale supplier, sells to commercial growers and home gardeners. Victoria's The Seed Collection offers chemical-free heirloom, open-pollinated, and non-GMO seeds. Tasmania's Southern Harvest carries a nice selection of cottage garden flower seeds. Finally, Tasmania's Veggie & Flower Garden Seeds specializes in hard-to-find cut flower seeds, veggies, herbs, and Australian native varieties.
And in New Zealand, notable suppliers include Auckland's Dr Keith Hammett, a world-renowned breeder of sweet peas, dahlias, and clivia. New Plymouth's Egmont Seeds, a family-owned company, caters to home gardeners with a wide variety of flower seeds. Tikorangi's Emerden, founded by farmer-florist Sarah Hawkless, offers specialty cut flower seeds and bulbs. Katikati's Kings Seeds provides a huge list and range of seeds with helpful search filters. Waiheke Island's Nourish Gardens, operated by Christy Ralphs, offers a beautifully curated collection of seeds. Auckland's Owairaka Seeds specializes in rare and hard-to-find perennial seeds. Auckland's Puriri Lane @ Addenbrooke, a plant nursery, has a nice selection of sweet peas and annual flowering plants. Lastly, Tauranga's Wildflower World offers various sweet pea seeds and other flower varieties.
This global compilation of seed sources underscores the rich diversity and dedicated craftsmanship within the horticultural industry. It serves as a testament to the passionate individuals and families who tirelessly work to preserve and introduce an extraordinary array of plant life to gardens worldwide.