Online Seed Sources

Q: I’m looking for odd and interesting vegetables, rock garden plants, and perennials, and I feel like I’ve exhausted my local retailers. Can ordering from online sources be trusted?

A: I’m happy to hear you’ve been supporting local businesses. However, as you’ve discovered, they simply can’t carry everything. The plants they offer must sell through enough volume to justify their space in the store. So I turn to specialty suppliers online for hard-to-find plants and seeds. Through trial and error over the years I’ve found some trustworthy sources and I’m happy to share a few of the best with all of you.

SEED SOURCES

Plant World Seed: plant-world-seeds.com - They grow their own seed which is increasingly rare - over 3500 varieties of flower and vegetable seed - many of which are rare, unusual and exotic. UK based.

Hazzard’s Seed: hazzardsgreenhouse.com

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds: rareseeds.com

Totally Tomatoes: totallytomato.com

North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS): nargs.org - Become a member and participate in their amazing seed exchange program. Thousands of rare and hard-to-find seeds.

PLANT SOURCES

Can be expensive but very much worth it to obtain strong, healthy, quality plants rather than puny little runts with no chance of survival.

Plant Delights Nursery - Fabulous color catalog: plantdelights.com

Edelweiss Perennials:  edelweissperennials.com

High Country Gardens: highcountrygardens.com

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs: brentandbeckysbulbs.com

Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show on Legends 810AM.