Free Herb Seed Catalogs 2024

 

It's that time of year again. Are you ready to send out your seed catalog requests? Great. Let's get started.

Comprehensive List of Free Seed Catalogs for Herbs and More

Below is a roundup of free herb catalogs for 2024. The list contains offerings for popular herbs, regional favorites, medicinal, and hard-to-find varieties, too. A few suppliers specialize in herbs only, while others sell vegetables and other plants, too. Some offer paper catalogs you'll receive in your mailbox (free or at a nominal charge), while others' catalogs are digital downloads. Often, you'll have a choice of one or the other.


Click on the company name to go to its free catalog request page. Click on "main site" to access the main page for the site if you aren't familiar with their products. There are lots of options out there, so take your time perusing the offerings.


A secondary list at the bottom of this post includes companies that sell garden seeds and plants that do not offer free seed catalogs but still deserve an honorable mention. 

The last on the list is Free Heirloom Seeds This remarkable site offers free seeds (with some restrictions). They also welcome donations in the form of volunteers, seed sharing and donations via PayPal. Their goal is, in part, to support biodiversity and encourage people to embrace gardening.


Although some garden seed catalog lists are rigidly curated, I am not comfortable offering a rundown of my favorites. You may want an unusual item, be interested in the most economical option, or prefer a site that specializes in non-GMO, heirloom seeds, organically grown seeds or plants, or region-specific options. There is a bit of everything here. Hopefully, you'll find interesting choices for your needs.


Special note: I know some of you love paper catalogs -- and others think they're a waste of trees. I have many happy memories of planning my spring layouts and growing strategies using a paper seed catalog and scribbling notes in the margins. I've saved some of those catalogs as part of my nostalgia collection. Often, paper catalogs will include suggestions and even recipes you won't find on a supplier's website. Maybe you could bend the no-paper rule just this once and order one or two catalogs to while away the weeks until the weather warms up.

Free Seed Catalog Requests: Details to Look For

Most of the seed catalogs listed here have a lot of information to offer. Pay particular attention to new cultivars for specific herbs, vegetables, and flower seeds. Science is always looking for ways to make plants more resistant to pests and diseases and increase their viability. For many garden plants, there's a big focus on improving heat or cold tolerance, stamina when faced with dry/wet/humid conditions, and more. Two examples involving herbs are rosemary cultivars that can thrive in cold climates, and lavender, that will do in the humid South.


Two other things to watch for are seed listings that include plant hardiness zone recommendations, planting details (advance prep, how soon, how deep) and information about germination rates.


If you've received catalogs from any of these sites in the last couple of years, you may already be on their mailing list for 2024, so keep that in mind. It might also benefit early birds to place their seed orders promptly for special discounts.

2024 List of Free Herb Catalogs

Adaptive seeds (Main Site) - Digital catalog download

Known for their organic and rare seed varieties designed for short-season northern climates.


Annie’s Heirloom Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (Main Site)

- See Rare Seeds -

Bluestone Perennials (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Botanical Interests (Main Site) - Digital catalog download




Brecks (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Burnt Ridge Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
Northwest native plants as well as shrubs and trees


Burpee (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs





A popular plant and seed source with non-GMO and heirloom choices. They include lots of lots of growing information


Burrell Seed Growers (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Crimson Sage Medicinal Plant Nursery (Main Site) - Online listings only

A nice resource for medicinal plants grouped by categories like Ayurvedic, culinary, Chinese, Native American, and more.


Fedco Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Fedco Seeds is a worker and consumer-owned cooperative enterprise offering herb seeds and more, including trees, tubers, and supplies.


Gurney’s Seed & Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs



Harris Seeds (Main Site)


High Mowing Organic Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Jackson & Perkins (Main Site) - Free print catalog
Known for their breathtaking roses, Jackson & Perkins also offers herbs and other plants.


John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog
Enjoy their 68-page free catalog, and if you're a newbie, check out their online section on seed starting.


Johnny’s Selected Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Employee-owned, with same-day shipping within the continental U.S.

Jung Seed (Main Site) - Free digital catalog or print catalog for $3 to be applied to any purchase


Kitazawa Seed Company (Main Site) - Free digital catalog or print catalog with $2 postage fee
Specialty Asian seeds

Lake Valley Seed (Main Site) - Free Digital catalog only


NE Seed (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Nichols Garden Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs (Black and white catalog no photos)


Old House Gardens - (Main Site) Free digital catalog print catalog for $2 postage, credited with purchase.


Park Seed Co. (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
Park offers a large selection of non-GMO seeds.


Pinetree Garden Seeds (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Prairie Nursery (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
Known for their native plants and seeds


Rare Seeds (Main Site) - Free basic print catalog or extensive (500 page) catalog for $14.95


Richter’s Herbs (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs (Based in Canada, Specify US or Canadian catalog request)


Rupp Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


St. Clare Heirloom Seeds (Main Site) - Digital catalog only
Offering heirloom and open-pollinated seeds


Seed Savers Exchange (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Seeds from Italy (Main Site) - Free digital catalog only
As the name implies, Seeds from Italy specializes in vegetables and herb seeds from Italy - some of which may be difficult to source elsewhere.


Seeds ‘n Such (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Select Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs





Siskiyou Seeds (Main Site) - Free digital catalog only


Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs as well as other publications

Sow True Seed (Main Site) - Free print catalog




Offering open-pollinated, heirloom and organic seeds as well as plants, bulbs and more.


Stokes Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Strictly Medicinal Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalog

Territorial Seed Company (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs
With these folks, the catalog costs $3, with a $3 discount on your 1st order.


The Thyme Garden - (Main Site) Free print and digital catalogs


Turtle Tree Seed (Main Site) - PDF download


Twilley Seed (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Urban Farmer (Main Site) - Free print catalog




Vermont Bean (Main Site) - Free digital catalog only


Well-sweep Herb Farm (Main Site) - Free digital plant listing only


West Coast Seeds (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs


Wild Garden Seed (Main Site) - Free print catalog


Wildseed Farms (Main Site) - Online catalog only


Willhite Seed Inc. (Main Site) - Free print and digital catalogs

Other Interesting Seed Catalogs with Online Listings

These sites don't offer catalogs, but they have some interesting seeds, plants or other offerings that might interest you:


99 Heirlooms


Crimson Sage Medicinal Plant Nursery
No catalog and plants only, but a resource for hard-to-find herbs


Living Seed Company




Organic Republic


Outside Pride


Renee’s Garden Seeds (Main Site)
Renee’s Garden Seeds is known for its gourmet and heirloom seeds.


San Diego Seed Company


Victory Seed Interesting regional seed collections. Take a look.


West Coast Seeds Canadian-based

Free Garden Seeds

Free Heirloom Seeds

Seed Viability - Stored Seeds (Vegetables and Herbs) 

Do you have leftover seeds from last year or before? Great. Many types of seed can remain viable for years. Depending on the varieties you have and how they’ve been maintained*, they can still sprout when the conditions are right. For instructions on how to plant new and stored seeds, check the seed packets for the varieties you have or perform a search on Google for in-depth instructions. For example, some seeds require a cold snap and then a warm-up to germinate. Others get the message when exposed to light.


Below, you’ll find a list of general plant varieties and how long they will remain viable under favorable conditions. This is just a general guideline, though. When checking for more information, use the scientific name for the plant seed rather than its generic name. That’s the best way to get the most accurate data and recommendations.


Make sure to date the new catalog seeds you purchase this year, and jot down a few notes about the supplier and how they performed. Many seed catalog companies welcome feedback and will even provide insightful suggestions if you run into problems.


*As a general rule, maintain saved garden seeds in a secure, dry, dark and cool location.


Herb Seed Viability List

Anise -  1-3 yrs.

Basil -  3-5 yrs.

Borage -  3-5 yrs.

Calendula -  5-6 yrs.

Caraway -  1-2 yrs.

Catnip -  3 yrs.

Chamomile -  4 yrs.

Chervil -  1-4 yrs.

Chives -  1-3 yrs.

Cilantro -  2-4 yrs.

Feverfew -  2 yrs.

Dill -  2-4 yrs.

Fennel -  1-2 yrs.

Hyssop -  2-4 yrs.

Lavender -  4 yrs.

Lemon balm -  2-4 yrs.

Lovage -  1-3 yrs.

Marjoram -  2-4 yrs.

Mint -  3 yrs.

Bee balm – 4 yrs.

Oregano -  4 yrs.

Parsley -  2-3 yrs.

Rosemary -  2-4 yrs.

Rue -  2 yrs.

Sage -  1-3 yrs.

Savory -  2-4 yrs.

Sorrel -  4 yrs.

Stevia -  3-5 yrs.

Thyme -  2-4 yrs.

Valerian -  2-3 yrs.

Test Your Older Seeds

If you have concerns about how viable your older stored seeds are and have a few to spare, start a couple between two sheets of moist paper toweling. Make a note of the date and check their progress daily, keeping them damp but not wet. Whether and when they sprout will tell you if the batch is still good and give you an idea of how long it will take them to germinate outdoors later in the season.



Seed Catalog Terms to Know Before You Shop

Cultivar - A cultivar is the selectively grown variety of a recognized plant (like a rose) distinguished for its unique and reliably reproduced characteristics. When a cultivar sets seed, subsequent generations retain its unique properties. 

GMO - A Genetically Modified Organism is produced as the end result of planned human intervention, either by the sexual crossing of different varieties of compatible plants to achieve a specific set of characteristics or as the result of introducing DNA directly from one species into another that would not be compatible otherwise. This second process is referred to as genetic engineering (GE).

OP - Open Pollinated seeds occur through the most natural forms of pollination when compatible pollen is distributed to a plant by the action of insects, birds, wind or rain. Open-pollinated varieties generally have reliable traits generation after generation. 

(F-1) Hybrid - These seeds are the result of a favorable first-generation cross between two related plant lines to combine targeted, distinct traits from the parents into a single plant. To reproduce the characteristics of an F-1 hybrid, saving seeds will not recreate the hybrid's unique features. For that, the parent plant will have to be cloned.

Heirloom - Heirloom seeds do produce plants with the same characteristics as the parent plant. They are a reliable commodity season after season. This is the result of natural selection or genetic manipulation over many generations and decades. Some of the most popular garden vegetables, flowers and herbs grown today are heirloom varieties.


Certified Organic - Certified organic seeds are produced under the guidance and supervision of the USDA’s National Organic Program. They include limitations on pesticide use and regulations against using genetically engineered stock. To learn more, visit the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Special note: If you have specific questions about gardening in your area that local resources are unable to answer, try your regional Cooperative Extension Office.