I remember being a first time flower grower and wanting to start investing in farms that grew, harvested, and sold quality seeds. Having this goal is a worthy ambition, but it didn't necessarily make it easy to find the right source right away. At first I created wish lists on several seed sites and eventually learned that getting the flower seeds I wanted was going to depend on a lot of things. Some seed sellers had large operations and others were smaller meaning they sold out quicker and had less seed availibility. The time of year was also a huge factor on availibility. I also learned that certain seeds could not be shipped to me from outside the US which meant I couldn't order from some wonderful Canadian providers I'd found--or from any provider from outside the country.
After my first couple seasons of flower seed searching I gained a few helpful tips: 1) my best chance at getting the seeds I wanted was between October and the beginning January depending on where I was ordering from; 2) all seed sellers were a little bit different and I began caring about supporting different aspects of those businesses; 3) I wasn't likely going to be able to get all of my seeds from one single seller. However I also narrowed down a handful of seed companies that I love and have committed my business to for all these reasons.
Top 5 Flower Seed Companies in the United States
Johnny's was the first seed company I bought flower seeds from as a flower farmer. There are so many reasons I love Johnny's Seeds. The first thing that I noticed is that their company is 100% employee owned. This shows me that the people who work for Johnny's aren't in it just for a paycheck, but that they're passionate about creating a high-quality product and experience for their customers. Johnny's was started in 1973 and has since grown and flourished. The company's team conducts their own breeding and research on their 40-acre farm in Maine. They use no genetic modification or engineering to produce their seeds and their seed quality is tested in their on-site lab.
Johnny's sells hundreds of varieties of fruits, veggies, herbs, and of course flower seeds. In fact, I purchase flower and vegetable seeds from Johnny's and have been very happy with the great prices for great quality. If you're an organic grower, they have an entire selection of organic seeds! In addition to seeds, they also sell plenty of garden and farming tools and supplies that have all been trialed by Johnny's workers. If you're planning to make a big order like I usually do, Johnny's Seeds offers free shipping on orders over $200! There are some seeds you'll be able to buy year-round at Johnny's. I've had pretty good success at getting most of the flower seeds I want. But if you're looking for some of the more popular varieties of flower seeds, it will be hard to get availability unless you purchase your spring-planted seeds in the late fall or early winter.
I stumbled across Lisa's Instagram during my first year flower farming. Watching her videos and reading her articles were so helpful in the beginning and continue to help me as I learn and grow as a flower farmer. Lisa and her team grow thousands of cut flowers on 1.5 acres in Newport News, VA. While The Gardener's Workshop seems to be mainly focused on providing education for gardeners, they also sell supplies and seeds on their website. In their shop, you can also find seed starting kits which provides everything you need to get your flower garden started!
Because TGW isn't a sole seed production company, you may not find as big a seed selection as you would with a larger company. However I've always been able to snag up the special flower seeds from The Gardener's Workshop that get sold out quickly elsewhere. This year in particular I purchased their Madame Butterfly and Chantilly Snapdragon mixes which are so popular and hard to find in stock mid-January. Overall I've loved the content and passion that The Gardener's Workshop has to help flower growers succeed in their flower dreams. That in itself is something I'm happy to invest in!
This is a well known name among gardeners no matter what level you consider yourself to be. Burpee seeds are sold in stores all over and is special to me because it was founded and continues to run from my home state of Pennsylvania. Since 1876, Burpee has been devoted to providing quality farm-grown products and now has locations all over the world. This seed production company has done extensive research over the last 100+ years and developed some of the most notable seed products in the country. Thanks to founder W. Atlee Burpee's dedication to travel and learn in the late 1800s, we have double flowering Gloriosa Daisies, white marigolds, and other beautiful varieties of flowers in the US.
While there's a lot of good to be said about Burpee's company, their extensive popularity can also be a downfall when it comes to customer service. Because Burpee is so well known, that means many people are ordering from them. The more product and the more customers a company has, the more likely it is to make mistakes. However, this company has built a great reputation, their seeds have great germination rates, and all their products are GMO free.
Eden Brothers is one of the largest seed and flower bulb providers in the United States. They provide their customers with a huge variety of organic, heirloom, herb, veggie, and flower seeds. Eden also has a selction of hundreds of flower bulbs and perennials. While this company started small in 2009, they're now located in Asheville, NC and are well known among the farm and garden community. I was excited and surprised when we drove past their facility over Thanksgiving during a visit to my in-laws who live nearby. I was like, "Hey, I know them!"
One of their stand-out products for me is their wildflower mixes. You can choose your seed mix by a variety of criteria from color, flower type, region, and more. This is special to me because it was a wildflower seed mix I used to plant my first successful flower garden and something I continue to for myself and for others who want to grow a colorful variety of flowers without too much maintenance. Eden Brother's team is dedicated to provide quality product and service to their customers and they offer free shipping on orderes over $79.
Last but certainly not least on my list of the top 5 places to buy seeds is Floret. Even before I thought about starting a flower farm, Erin's blog was where I went to learn and have all my flower-growing questions answered. In fact Erin was the first flower farmer I was introduced to. Before I discovered her work I didn't even realize flower farming was a possibility. I have a lot to thank her for teaching me and providing me with the courage to step out and create a more beautiful world.
Floret's team is hard working and passionate about developing quality and beautiful seeds and plants for flower growers. They have an extensive dahlia breeding program on their farm and it's so fun to see all the new varieties they develop every year. I trust their production, their products, and their passion. If you want to buy seeds from Floret, you've got to be ready to quickly snag up your favorites when their seed sales go live. Floret seeds are a hot commodity in the flower seed world so unless you're on top of it, it's going to be tough to get the seeds you want. But if you can manage to do it, it's worth it.
So there you have it; my favorite places to buy flower seeds here in the USA. I'd love to hear where your favorite places to buy seeds are and why. Share in the comments so I can check it out!
