FREE Native, Bird & Butterfly, or Honeybee Seeds + More Free Seeds for Your Garden!

Looking for free seeds for your garden? Whether you’re growing vegetables, planting wildflowers, or trying to attract more bees and butterflies, there are plenty of ways to get seeds without spending a fortune.

I’ve rounded up the latest free seed offers you can request online, plus some of my favorite ways to find free vegetable, herb, flower, and tree seeds locally. I’ll update this page as new offers become available!

Current FREE Seed Offers

1. FREE Native, Bird & Butterfly, or Honeybee Buffet Seed Mixes

The Hollow Tree Honey Foundation is offering FREE seed mixes to help support pollinators and native plants! Choose from Native, Bird & Butterfly, or Honeybee Buffet mixes. Just complete the request form to apply for your free seeds. Availability is limited.

2. FREE Wildflower Seed Packets from Operation Pollination

Want to bring more butterflies, bees, and other pollinators to your yard? Operation Pollination offers free wildflower seed packets to help create pollinator-friendly spaces. Visit their website and complete the request form to see if packets are currently available.

3. FREE American Chestnut Tree Seeds

Want to try growing your own American Chestnut tree? American Chestnut Restoration offers free American Chestnut seeds (nuts) through its seed request program.

Membership isn’t required, although members receive priority. They’ll contact applicants when seeds become available. These are genuine American Chestnut seeds, but they are not resistant to chestnut blight. Supplies are limited, and submitting a request doesn’t guarantee seeds.

Free seed offers can fill up quickly. Check each organization’s website for current availability, eligibility, and shipping details.

10 Ways I Find Free Seeds for My Garden

When I started growing our own food, I was shocked at how expensive it could get. One tiny tomato plant at the garden center could easily cost $5 or more, and I knew I’d need a lot more than one.

Starting plants from seed was much cheaper, but buying packet after packet still adds up. That’s crazy when you think about it: plants naturally produce hundreds of seeds every season!

Over the years, I’ve learned that some of the best seeds are completely free. I save seeds from grocery store produce, collect seeds from plants growing around me, trade with other gardeners, and keep an eye out for giveaways.

One thing I’ve noticed is that plants already growing naturally in my area tend to do better in my yard. If something is thriving nearby without anyone fussing over it, there’s a pretty good chance it’ll be happy in my garden, too.

Here are some of my favorite ways to find free seeds.

1. Check Your Local Seed Library

Did you know some libraries give away seeds just like they lend books? Many public libraries have seed libraries where you can pick up vegetable, herb, and flower seeds for free.

Some ask you to save and return seeds after your harvest, but others don’t require anything in return.

Check your local library’s website or search for a seed library near you. You can also browse the Seed Library Network for resources and participating programs.

2. Check Your County Extension Office

Your local Cooperative Extension office is worth checking, especially if you’re just getting started gardening. They sometimes offer free seeds, starter plants, workshops, and seasonal giveaways.

Master Gardener programs can also be a great source of information about what actually grows well in your area. You can find your state’s Cooperative Extension resources here.

3. Join a Seed Swap

Seed swaps are a great way to try varieties you might never find at a garden center. Garden clubs, libraries, and local gardening groups often organize swaps where everyone brings their extras.

And don’t assume you can’t participate because you’re new to gardening. Some swaps have donated seeds available for beginners. Check local gardening groups or search Facebook for seed swaps in your area.

4. Join Local Facebook Gardening Groups

This is one of my favorite ways to find free seeds!

Gardeners always seem to have more seeds than they can plant. I’ve found that local Facebook gardening groups are some of the best places to find extras, especially varieties that already grow well in your area.

You can also check Buy Nothing, Freecycle, and neighborhood groups. Don’t be afraid to ask! A simple post asking whether anyone has extra seeds might get you a whole collection.

5. Collect Seeds While You’re Out Walking

This is one of my favorite ways to add new plants to the yard without spending anything.

When I’m out walking, I pay attention to the flowers, shrubs, and trees growing around me. If I see something I love, I try to figure out what it is and whether I can grow it from seed.

I especially like finding plants that are already thriving naturally in my area. Those tend to be some of my best choices for landscaping because they’re already adapted to our weather and growing conditions.

Look for mature seed pods, dried flower heads, and fallen seeds. Just make sure you can identify the plant first, and only collect where you have permission. Never take seeds from protected plants or places where collecting isn’t allowed.

And remember, a plant growing locally isn’t necessarily native or a good choice for your yard. Some invasive plants grow a little TOO well!

6. Save Seeds From Grocery Store Produce

I have had great luck with this one!

When I’m cutting up tomatoes, peppers, squash, or other produce, I’ll sometimes save the seeds, dry them out, and see what grows. It costs absolutely nothing to experiment, and I’ve had some really good results.

Not everything will grow exactly like the produce it came from, especially hybrids, but that’s part of the fun. Just remember that some seeds, such as tomato seeds, benefit from a little extra preparation before drying and storing.

7. Save Seeds From Your Own Garden

Once you have a garden growing, you’ve already got a source of free seeds. Beans, peas, tomatoes, and many herbs are good places to start. Let some plants finish producing seeds instead of pulling everything up at the end of the season.

I like the idea of buying seeds once and then growing them year after year without having to buy more. Besides if they grow good enough to get food you know they will grow well in your area!

Open-pollinated and heirloom varieties are usually your best bet if you want the next generation to resemble the original plant. Some plants can cross-pollinate, so keep that in mind when saving seeds.

8. Check Community Gardens & Local Garden Clubs

Community gardens and gardening clubs are great places to find free seeds, especially if you’re looking for something that grows well locally.

Some receive donated seed packets, host swaps, or give away leftover seeds after planting season. You might even find someone willing to share seeds from a plant you’ve been wanting to grow.

9. Ask About Leftover Seeds at Garden Centers

This one is worth a try, although there’s no guarantee. Garden centers and nurseries sometimes have older seed packets or leftover inventory they can’t sell. It doesn’t hurt to ask whether they have any they’re willing to give away.

And don’t automatically throw out older seeds! Depending on the variety and how they’ve been stored, some seeds can remain viable for years. Doesn’t hurt to plan them!

10. Watch for Free Seed Giveaways Online

This is where I come in!

Seed companies, conservation groups, pollinator organizations, and gardening nonprofits occasionally offer free seed packets by mail. Some are wildflower mixes designed to help bees and butterflies, while others offer vegetables, herbs, or native plants.

I keep the current offers updated at the top of this page, so check back whenever you’re looking for something new to plant.

A Few Things I’ve Learned About Free Seeds

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that just because you CAN grow something doesn’t mean it’s going to be happy in your yard.

I’ve had much better luck paying attention to what’s already growing around me instead of constantly fighting to grow things that don’t like our climate. 

Before planting, check whether the seeds are appropriate for your growing zone, especially with wildflower mixes. Not every packet labeled “wildflowers” contains plants that belong in your area.

And if you have older seeds, try sprouting a few in damp paper towels before planting the whole packet. It’s an easy way to see whether they’re still viable.

Keep the Free Seeds Coming!

Once you start looking, you’ll realize free seeds are everywhere. Some come from organizations and giveaways, but plenty are already growing in your garden, sitting in your kitchen, or waiting to be shared by another gardener.

And eventually, you might be the one giving away extra seeds!

I’ll keep updating this page with new free seed offers as I find them.

Looking for more ways to save? Check out my guide to getting free stuff for more freebies and money-saving resources.