Seed Distribution Scheme
The 2026 Seed Distribution Scheme will re-open later this year
Who’s involved in the Seed Distribution Scheme?
Members organise and run it with support from the administrative office. The different stages of the distribution are carried out by teams of member volunteers.
How does it work?
Members collect seed from plants in their gardens, in the UK or overseas, and donate it to the scheme.
Seed is donated throughout the summer and autumn, with the donating period ending in October each year (for the precise date please read 'Donating Seed' below. The members of the team then prepare a seed list and circulate it to members in the November issue of The Hardy Plant. At the same time a descriptive database is published on this website.
Is there a charge?
There is no charge for the seed itself, although a charge is made to cover postage and administration.
What’s the size of the Seed Distribution Scheme?
In a typical Seed Distribution Scheme year we offer around 1,200 named varieties; orders are sent to many countries worldwide.
Direct Debit for Seeds
Delivery to Ireland
What about delivery to Eire / Ireland?
Despite following the correct procedures and paperwork, all deliveries to Ireland in previous year's distributions have been returned to us. We don't recommend making an order under these circumstances.
Ordering Seeds - Important for all
Any seed from this distribution may be grown for private or commercial use.
Important
- For UK orders this means you can request up to 20 seed packets, with no repeat numbers. Donors can add 15 extra. If ordering by post, all 35 should be in increasing seed number order.
- For overseas orders this means you can request 25 seed packets, with no repeat numbers. Donors can add 15 extra. If ordering by post, all 40 should be in increasing seed number order.
- Substitutes should be listed separately in seed list order.
Ways to order
- Only one order can be accepted per person. Joint members may each make a separate order. Please do not duplicate any seed on your order. Joint members please do not duplicate your partner’s order. This ensures that seed in short supply has the widest distribution.
- A chain of member volunteers picks out the orders. All the seed packets are in boxes in number order. It is extremely important that the orders are listed in increasing number order so that our volunteers can work efficiently. So please enter your choices in seed list number order. Enter the number and not the name.
- All online seed orders must be placed by 5pm on Friday December 22nd
- Orders by post should arrive by 5pm on Friday December 22nd
Processing and Delivery
We usually make up orders in January.
Coming true from seed
Seed from cultivars, e.g. Aconitum 'Bressingham Spire', will not be identical to the parent, and plants from such seed should not be labelled with the parent cultivar name. Also some plants are highly promiscuous, e.g. aquilegias, and seedlings may be very different from their parent. It is very important that such plants do not enter the nursery trade with the parent plant's name as this causes confusion. Enjoy growing plants from this HPS seed, but remember that variations will occur and label the plant as ‘ex---‘. Species plants naturally show some degree of variation and ‘sports’ arise this way.
Ferns
For tips on sowing spores and growing to maturity have a look at Sue Dockerill's article, or go to the British Pteridological Society's website. For more information on ferns, take a look at our HPS Booklet by Neil Timm.
Seed in short supply
Some seed from rare and less usual plants may be donated in very small quantities and will be out of stock very quickly. Order early! It is best to give substitutes to make up your order if needed.
Compliance with the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol
HPS request that seed donors who collect seed from the wild observe the laws of the source country. To the best of our knowledge no seed in this list has been acquired illegally, nor has any seed been collected which contravenes the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol forbids the utilisation of genetic material (including seed) which has been collected in the wild from signatory countries, for the development of new named cultivars and hybrids, or new drugs and other products, without a written contract with the country of origin.
Aquilegia seed
Some UK aquilegias are showing signs of Downy Mildew. Please observe aquilegias in your garden and keep an eye on any seedlings you grow. For more information see www.touchwoodplants.co.uk/aquilegia-downy-mildew.htm We regret that we will not be able to send any aquilegia seed overseas for this reason.
Phyto-sanitary requirements
Some governments insist that seed entering their country has specific certification. Anyone ordering HPS seed is responsible for ensuring that their national requirements are followed and that any necessary compliance documents are included along with the seed order, which should be sent by post and not made on-line.
Ordering on-line
- Online seed orders must be placed by 5pm on Friday December 22nd
- The administration charge for UK members is £12 plus £2.50 for each Random Set ordered.
- To order seed on-line, use the buttons at the top of this section.
Ordering by post
- Members may use the order form at the back of the printed seed list booklet (which is sent to all members towards the end of November) and send it by post to The Hardy Plant Society, 3 Basepoint Business Centre, Crab Apple Way, Evesham, WR11 1GP.
- Please send your order in a regular ‘letter size’ envelope. (max. Size 240mm x 160mm.) Using a larger envelope incurs a Post Office surcharge, considerable extra Administrator’s time, and a delay in processing your order.
- All orders should reach the office by 5pm on Friday December 22nd
- Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Hardy Plant Society’.
Ordering - UK Members
Important
- For UK orders this means you can request up to 20 seed packets, with no repeat numbers. Donors can add 15 extra. If ordering by post, all 35 should be in increasing seed number order.
- Substitutes should be listed separately in seed list order.
Orders from the UK
The administration charge is £12. You may request up to 20 packets of seed. Donors of five or more different varieties of seed may order an additional 15 packets. No duplicates please. In addition orders from the UK can include the following:
- The Mix which is an unnamed mix of seed which has ‘escaped’ or is seed which cannot be verified. This is an optional extra which can produce interesting plants.
- Pot luck substitute which is our choice of named seed which you can request as a substitute if a first choice is unavailable.
- Random Sets which are sets of 25 packets of seed picked out at random after all orders have been completed. Enter the number of random sets you would like on your order form. Add £2.50 for each set ordered.
Ordering - Overseas
Important
- For overseas orders this means you can request 25 seed packets, with no repeat numbers. Donors can add 15 extra. If ordering by post, all 40 should be in increasing seed number order.
- Substitutes should be listed separately in seed list order.
Orders from overseas
- Overseas members who do not wish to make online payments may pay for their seed order in advance along with their subscription, before the seed list is published. If you order seed online you must pay for it at the time of ordering.
- You may request up to 25 packets of seed. Donors of five or more different varieties of seed may order an additional 15 packets. No duplicates please. The administration charge is £12.00 or the equivalent
- Overseas members should include a cheque for £12.00 Sterling, or banknotes for US $16, or Euro €15.
- Overseas orders should include importation documentation if this is relevant to the order.
Seed for Charities and Public Bodies
After we have sent out all the orders at the end of January we may have some seed remaindered. We make this available to the public at gardening shows where HPS has a stand. We are also happy to make seed available, free of charge, to charities and public bodies involved with gardening. Recipients in past years have included school, hospice, sensory, National Trust and community wildlife gardens.
If you are involved with a charity or public body which can make good use of our seed, please contact us by e-mail: [email protected] before the end of May.
Donating Seed
Donating Seed
Thank you very much, all those who have donated seed in the past: we hope you will do so again in time for the next distribution. You may prefer to remind yourself about donating by reading the paragraphs at ‘How to donate’. Please remember that the closing date for donations is the end of October.
If you have not donated seed in the past, or would like to refresh your memory, we hope that the following notes will encourage you to do so this year. Please help us build an even more impressive list of interesting seeds for our next seed list.
Why donate?
Apart from the obvious point that without donors there is no seed distribution, growing and collecting seed has its own rewards. It is a great way of really getting to know your plants because it encourages you to look carefully at them at all stages of their growth. As a bonus, seed donors are entitled to request 15 extra packets of seed with their order.
What should I donate?
Any seed from plants growing in your garden is welcome, however small the quantity. Please note that we will not list wild collected seed unless collected under licence or collected in the UK from the roadside or with the landowner’s permission. It is the collector’s responsibility to ensure that seed is obtained legally. However seed gathered from plants growing in your garden which were grown from seed originally collected in the wild is always welcome. For more details, look at our page on the Nagoya Protocol.
We want to achieve as wide a range of seeds in our list as possible so, as well as the old stalwarts, we are particularly interested in unusual species and varieties. A plant which seems commonplace to you may be highly desirable to someone else.
We are also interested in offering vegetable seed where they are of unusual vegetables or of heritage varieties or of seed adapted to a particular set of growing conditions.
Please remember that cultivars are unlikely to come true from seed. If you donate seed from cultivars they should be labelled as ex---, eg Abutilon vitifolium ex 'Album'.
Aquilegia seeds. We are concerned about the spread of Downy Mildew in Aquilegia. If you intend to send seed from Aquilegia plants please ensure that you do not have infected plants in your garden.
For details of symptoms see http://www.touchwoodplants.co.uk/aquilegia-downy-mildew.htm.
How exact must I be about names?
We prefer it if you can provide a complete botanical name, but if you think it is a good plant and can give us a description then we will include it. For example, a lady donated ‘Hollyhocks, no rust for five years’. It became ‘Alcea rosea ex rust resistant variety’ in the list. Hopefully it will spread its genes around!
How much seed would you like me to send?
As we aim to fill about 50 small glassine envelopes with each variety of seed there is no point in sending very large quantities. Unless the individual seeds are very big, about 2-3 fluid ounces (roughly 75 millilitres) is the maximum of each type that we need from each donor. However, no amount is too small. If we only have enough seed for one little glassine envelope then we will pack one envelope and at least one more person will have the opportunity to grow that plant.
Have you advice for a tidy gardener?
Some of you may like a tidy and floriferous garden, and so dead-head throughout the season. However, for many plants one seed head provides quite a lot of seed. Please try to leave one or two on in the less conspicuous parts of your borders.
Can you give advice for collecting seed?
Most of the seed we get is that which ripens in late summer and early autumn. Please keep it coming. But many plants ripen their seed much later or earlier than this. For example hydrangea seed is usually not ripe until the end of November, rhododendrons should be harvested early in the new year. Spring ephemerals scatter their seed well before the end of June. Please collect this seed. You can either send it to us directly or store it yourself until you send the rest of your seed (see ‘Storing the seed’ below).
Quite a lot of seeds are easy to collect. They are big enough to see and slow enough to catch. But there are some that are very small (eg astilbe) or too fast (eg geranium). In both cases a paper bag can help. For the minute seed, cut off the dry seed heads just before most of the capsules open and put them in a paper bag in a dry place. In a week or so the seed will be in the bottom of the bag. For the fast seed tie a small bag over the seed head before it ‘pops’ and trap the little devils.
How should I clean the seed?
Perhaps the thought of cleaning seed puts you off donating. It is not that difficult. For most plants with dry seed heads just remove the bits of dried flower ends and broken seed cases. Often gently blowing over the seed, or shaking it gently in an open bowl will help separate the rubbish. There is no need to get paranoid about it. If 90% is seed, it is fine.
A bit more care is needed to separate out the real seeds of plants with composite flower heads as they tend to include many infertile seeds or have dried bracts which can be confused with seed. This applies to eryngium, ligularia, aster, monarda and many other genera. Wet fruits such as pommes and berries also need some care. The fruit often contains germination inhibitors and must be removed by washing. A useful technique is to remove as much the pulp as possible and put the seed into a small bowl of water. Usually the seed will sink and any remaining pulp can be poured off and the seed collected and dried.
The most important thing is make sure that the seed is dry before it is stored. You can then put it into a labelled, paper envelope, put it in an airtight container (if possible with a bag of silica gel, such as those often given when you buy electrical or leather goods) and keep it in the fridge. However, if you are not confident about your ability to store it, send it to us directly. We are happy to receive seed at any time of the year.
How would you like me to send the seed?
Any envelope that can be well sealed will do. If you have nothing suitable send your designated seed receiver (as set out below under 'How to donate, in a nutshell') a large letter stamp and he/she will send you some suitable envelopes
Most largish seed is well behaved and stays in the envelope; other seeds are escape artists (alliums and poppies among the worst). Please make sure seams are tight. If you use sticky tape, see it does not come into contact with the seed. The seed will stick to it and cannot be removed without damage.
Please make sure that you have the correct postage on the envelope.
Last year we paid 10 fines for incorrect postage. Please do not use recorded delivery as we are rarely in the house when the postman calls and the seed returns to the depot and a few more days in less than ideal storage conditions.
Please provide your email address (or a phone number) when sending seed, so that we can contact you with any queries.
When would you like me to send the seed?
The closing date for donations is 28th October, but Sandra and Roy, Linda and Ray and Coral will be happy to receive seed as early as you can send it as this eases the pressure which builds as October progresses.
Where would you like me to send the seed?
To your designated seed receiver as set out below.
Collect, name, dry and clean your seed (in that order).
Put your seed into labelled packets. If you do not have suitable packets available, please see the note below.
Write out an alphabetical list of seed you are sending, making sure that the name on the list is the same as on the seed, andthat your name, address (and your email address, if you have one) are on the list.
Send your packet of seed (however small) to one of these receivers:
- If the initial letter of your surname is from A to G, send your seed to
Mr R Shaw, 4 Welsford Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 6QF
[email protected] - If the initial letter of your surname is from H to R, send your seed to
Linda Hall, Birchwood, Snow Street, Roydon, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 5SB
[email protected] - If the initial letter of your surname is from S to Z, send your seed to
Peter Lyle, Fairdown, Church Meadow Lane, Bergh Apton, Norfolk NR15 1BH
[email protected]
Please check you have the right amount of postage on your package (Royal Mail charge a fine of £1 per incorrect item).
If you don’t have suitable packets
Your designated seed receiver (address above) can supply envelopes for donating seed. Send a note to say how many envelopes you need and enclose one “Large 2nd class” stamp per 20 envelopes. The envelopes are free of charge but they must be used only for sending seed to the HPS Seed Distribution scheme.
A final request from us
Please send the seed before the closing date (28th October). We cannot include late seed in the main list. If your seed arrives after 10 November we cannot even use it for a ‘Pot luck’ substitute and will have to store it for the next year.
Success of the Seed Distribution scheme
The success of the Seed Distribution scheme depends on members both giving and taking seed. Many have acquired brilliant plants through the Seed Distribution scheme that would otherwise have required searching far and wide at specialist nurseries. However, this would not have happened if someone had not donated the seed. Would you please look at your garden and the plants that you would like to share, and then consider collecting the seed and sending it for distribution.
