Where To Find Native Seeds
Growing your own native plants from seed is the most eco-conscious and budget-friendly way to add natives to your garden. Seeds cost significantly less than purchasing a fully grown plant, making them an excellent value.
However, finding native seeds for Southern Ontario can be challenging. Many garden centres don’t stock native plants or seeds, turning the search into a bit of a scavenger hunt. To make the process easier for fellow gardeners, we’ve compiled a list of reliable sources for native seeds, helping you start your native garden with ease.
This interactive map is an excellent tool for discovering native seed and plant sellers in your area. It highlights their locations and provides details about whether they exclusively offer native species or stock invasive ones as well. By shopping locally, you can support small businesses and contribute to the preservation of native ecosystems.
Another excellent way to find native seeds is by joining local gardening groups. Social media provides a great platform to connect with like-minded gardeners and discover new communities. Many native gardening groups are filled with passionate individuals eager to share their knowledge—and sometimes even offer plants or seeds for free.
Local seed libraries are gaining popularity, making it easier than ever to access native seeds for free. Hamilton, ON, is home to several seed libraries stocked with native plant varieties, offering a great opportunity for gardeners to start their collections. Just remember to give back—returning seeds helps keep these libraries thriving for others to enjoy. Many botanical gardens also host seed programs or maintain seed libraries open to the public, providing another valuable resource for native plant enthusiasts.
Keep your eyes peeled for independent seed libraries like ours. Your neighbourhood might have one too! Next time you are out for a walk around where you live, be on the lookout for seed libraries.
Sharing is caring! If you end up with more native plants than you need, consider passing them along. Your neighbours might be eager to start their own native gardens, and every shared seed helps expand the pollinator highway just a little further.
If you’re outside our region of Ontario, you can explore this list of Native Plant Societies in the US and Canada. They provide a comprehensive list of native plant societies across Canada and the United States, making it easy to find local resources and communities dedicated to native gardening.
Native Seed Retailers:
Northern Wildflowers. Online seed retailer specializing in native seeds for most of Canada. Their seeds are also sold in many stores across Canada if you prefer to shop in person.
Wildflower Farm. Online seed retailer with a great seed selector tool to help you narrow down your search.
West Coast Seeds. They sell many types of seeds from vegetables and annuals flowers to native plants. They deliver throughout Canada.
Bee Kissed Seeds. Located in Stoney Creek ON. They sell native plant seeds and have easy filtered categories to shop.
Ontario Seed Company. They are a Canadian seed company selling all types of plants from vegetables and flowers to native grasses. Their native seed selection is not as large as some other seed companies but they do have many different native grasses. Their wildflower section is a mix of native seeds and non native flowers.
AlterEden. They are an Indigenous business located in London ON and sell native plants and seeds. The nursery is accessible by appointment. They run workshops and a program for First Nations Youth to share skills.
St. Williams Nursery. They are located in Ontario Canada and work on ecological restoration projects. They sell bulk native seeds.
Hamilton Seed Libraries. There are many seed libraries scattered around Hamilton ON. 6 of them are run by Action 13 in Dundas. 3 of them are run by Green Venture in Hamilton.