I'll start https://www.plant-world-seeds.com/ & https://www.treeshrubseeds.com/ are at the top of my list this year.

A lot depends on what you are looking for. Annuals? Veggies? Exotic trees and shrubs? Natives? Wetland plants?

What was the problem with Treeseeds?

Michauxia in 2019 their website was taking orders, but they were not fulfilling them. When contacted, they did not reply. As I recall, their phone number was disconnected at the time. I ended up having to get my money back by filing a claim with Paypal (a claim to which Treeseeds never responded, which was the reason PayPal returned my money.)

Not good!

I'm not sure about this year in particular, but I buy most of my seeds from Johnny's. Lots of organic seed to choose from, good customer service, and lots of information on their website. A tad pricey but I feel the quality is good and it's a good company to support.

I also like Swallowtail a lot, but Deanna, I've always thought they give TOO MUCH seed lol! I mean, some of their seeds come in packets of 500 lol. I don't really need 500 of anything! So I often use them for, as you said, things I cannot find elsewhere. I always include Swallowtail on any list of recommended seed vendors.

For smaller amounts I use Pinetree. They have excellent prices, and good customer service, but not a huge range of choice. But again, I always place a small order with them, usually for things I need in smaller amounts. And sometimes they do have things that I cannot find elsewhere as well, even thought their choice overall is limited.

Lastly I like Select Seeds. I like their commitment to heirlooms, old-fashioned flowers, and organics and sustainability.

:)
Dee

This year I ordered from Select Seeds, Swallowtail, Summerhill, Sample Seeds and even some companies that don't begin with the letter S, such as Baker Creek Heirloom and Johnny's. I also ordered from Hayesfield on Etsy because I wanted black cotton seed. This year I hope that I have grown enough cotton that I will be willing to pull apart a ball to find my own seed. I have one big plant that has lots of unopened balls that I am waiting to open. I will cover it tonight because of predicted frost.

Baker Creek has unusual veggies. Summerhill is similar to Swallowtail.. Sample Seeds is an inexpensive way to try some things. I order from so many places because I have so many specific seeds on my wishlist. Early in January, I make lists and figure out what I will order from where, and then after they go in, I inevitably find out about something I just have to try and then end up searching for a source which always leads to ordering more than one additional packet of seeds. I only got hooked on black cotton because I wanted to order variegated pokeweed seeds.

I just found Tree Seeds on Garden Watchdog, and they certainly got a lot of negative reviews this year.

"...and even some companies that don't begin with the letter S, ..." - made me laugh, Michauxia!

"... Early in January, I make lists and figure out what I will order from where, and then after they go in, I inevitably find out about something I just have to try and then end up searching for a source..."

OMG, ain't that the truth, lol! I browse the catalogs briefly when they come in and then on a December Sunday afternoon sit down with a cup of tea and the catalogs, make a list of what I need, (haha, just noticed I said "need" not "want"!), write down each company that has it and the seed count and the price, and then sort everything so I get the amount of seed I want for the cheapest cost. Sometimes I will pay a little more for an item if I can add it to a big order, and not just buy one or two packets from one company - I figure it's cheaper to pay an extra dollar for a pack of seeds than another ten bucks for shipping!

And yes, there is always something you forget, or see that you hadn't seen before and just have to have, and again, for me, it comes down to shipping. One just can't justify paying five or more dollars to ship a pack of seeds, so one just must order more seeds to justify the shipping cost!

:)
Dee

Sheffields has the most incredible, unique selection of seeds. I learn every time I go on there. Maybe not the cheapest, but the quality of seeds and professionalism is for sure in the US the best.

M Olex, Sheffields was great for me until I had a problem. At that time it was, and I am paraphrasing here, 'I would be surprised if it were us... We've been doing this for 40 years... We do it right...' Very disappointing--especially considering how much money I have spent there in the past few years (*almost certainly more than $1000).

Addison, have you ever used J.L. Hudson or Chiltern seeds?

Michauxia, Not yet, but I think I ordered some from them since I started searching for new seed suppliers (Tim's already lost about $300 this fall--I had started ordering from Sheffield's almost exclusively and probably would have done so for 2020-2021).

Duh, I can't believe I didn't mention Nan Ondra at Hayefield. Her seeds are excellent! And, they are some unusual varieties that she harvests from her own garden. I have been extremely happy with them. I really value sellers that have seeds outside of the normal standards, and she definitely fits the bill. Just as a note, many of her seeds say something like "at least 25 seeds" but my packs often have significantly more than like. SIGNIFICANTLY more. Some of the harder seeds to harvest might be low in numbers, but many of them have more than enough seed to start the garden. I have also noticed that many each year the seeds offered is not at all the same thing, which means as a repeat customer there are new things to try.

I have had very good luck with Chiltern Seeds in the past. The seeds came more quickly than from some American companies. Prices may be high based on the rate of exchange. I only quit ordering from them when I found American sources .

I wrote this long Addendum to what I'd written to M Olex about Sheffield's because what I'd written didn't ring true after I'd written it. For some reason it never showed up in the comments. So, I deleted the original, and I am trying again. Maybe this time it will show up.

Addendum

Honestly, Sheffields hasn't been great. I have had problems
prior to the problem about which I contacted them. I *want* Sheffield's
to be great because they carry so many different types of seed. But, I
have gotten seed that doesn't come true (e.g. Monarda didyma that
is specifically described as Scarlet Beebalm and advertised with
pictures that only show scarlet blooms); I have gotten seeds that arrive
in indeterminate states (e.g. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, which has
come with seed coat fully intact, or seed coat totally digested; in the
first case, one can assume that the seeds need a heavy digesting with
acid; in the second case, what can I assume? Do I need to waste a lot
of time, money and energy figuring out if the seeds need any digestion
at all? Sheffield's lists the same instructions for both conditions and
tells me to figure it out); and, along these same lines, I have had
seeds come with bad instructions (I haven't paid too much attention to
these; one--I think it was Betula papyrifera, but the page has
been update if it was--needed light to germinate but the instructions
told me to bury it). My most recent problem really was just the straw
that broke the camel's back.

I started trying to grow Stewartia last year. I was unsuccessful.
This year, I determined to look deeply into it. This led to scientific
research, which indicates that the seed
is extremely sensitive to any
desiccation (drying). Further, it indicated that the seed can be
destroyed by same prior to harvest of seeds from seed capsules. And, the
only way to tell if seeds are damaged seems to be a TZ test.

Sheffield's indicates that it determines seed viability based on a
cut test. Further, the seed I bought from Sheffield's this year to try
again was shipped over the summer in a thin plastic bag. There was no
protection against desiccation, and the bag of seed was hot to the touch
from sitting in the mailbox. Quite possibly it had spent a couple days
in a hot truck or a hot postal warehouse.

I informed Sheffield's about my problem last year and inquired of
Sheffield's what steps they take to prevent desiccation prior to
harvest; after harvest; and in shipping. Tim replied (in what seemed to
be a condescendingly friendly email) as I described above: He's been
doing this a long time; he stores the seed cold; he would be surprised
if it were a fault of his; and I should call him to talk it over. I've
called people who have written emails like that in past, and it has
never gone well. So, I didn't. I told him I was disappointed. I told him
what I expected him to do--mind you, I never asked for a refund--just
information--and I pointed him in the direction of the scientific
research. He never got back to me, and I haven't ordered from him since.

@Addison in VT z4a. Thanks for your insights on Sheffields. And I can imagine that when you're invested more so intrinsically vs financially in your propagation, especially of a rare seed, then a lack of clear information can be frustrating. So I get it.. And for sure desiccation can be an issue, but I'm not sure Sheffield's is to blame, unless you're personal driver delivers you your seed vs USPS lol.

I've personally found them to be not only helpful in resolving issues such as these, especially when you DO call vs email Tim, but also simply just being professionals in an otherwise scam-ridden industry of online seed sales. I've found they're even often putting in extra seeds when ordering per packet, in case the germination % is lower than they would like it to be (vs price sale). So while they're not the cheapest, I can forgive brisk customer service when I know I'm getting often rare and notoriously fickle goods in overall very good state.

Hi everyone,

I also like Swallowtail, because of their attractive website. ParkSeed has good variety descriptions. I also like the seed companies that sell to both home gardeners and commercial growers. Johnny's might fall in that category. Also Hazzard's Seed Company and GeoSeed.

ZM (not associated with any linked company)