Seed encyclopedia
Search
Find a seed by its name, another name it goes by, or its scientific name. Small typos still find the right seed.
How to search
Ways to find a seed
Each example below runs a real search, so you can see what comes back.
- 01A seed's nameType the name you know. Names count most, so acorn squash comes first when you search for it.acorn squash
- 02Another name for itRegional and other names work too: “courgette” finds zucchini.courgette
- 03The scientific nameBotanical names are searched as well: “Ocimum basilicum” finds basil.Ocimum basilicum
- 04A near missWhen nothing matches as typed, search looks for the closest names, so “tomatoe” still finds tomato.tomatoe
- 05A word from the pageSearch also reads every seed page's summary and text, so a word like “pots” lists the seeds whose pages mention it.pots
Browse instead
Browse by category
Start here
Easy seeds to start with
Acorn Squash
Cucurbita pepo
Difficulty: Easy
African Marigold
Tagetes erecta
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Buckwheat
Fagopyrum esculentum
Difficulty: Easy
Banana Pepper
Capsicum annuum
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Difficulty: Easy
Feijoa
Acca sellowiana
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Side by side
Popular comparisons
Two seeds, every growing fact lined up, so you can pick the one that suits your space.
Search help
How search works
- What does the search look through?
- Seed names and the other names they go by count most, then scientific names, then each page's summary, then the full text of every seed page, including its questions and answers. Growing guides are searched by their title, summary and text.
- What if I spell a name wrong?
- When nothing matches what you typed, search looks for the seed names closest to it instead. If nothing is close enough, you'll see a few “Did you mean” suggestions.
- Can I search by scientific name?
- Yes. Searching for “Ocimum basilicum” finds basil.
- Why do I see 20 results at most?
- Search lists the 20 closest matches, best first. Add another word to narrow them down.
- Can I filter seeds instead of searching?
- Yes. The seed list filters by category, difficulty, sun and whether a seed grows in pots, and each category has its own page.
Not sure what to search for?
Browse all 223 seeds and filter them by sun, difficulty and whether they grow in pots.
