Free veggie, herb, and native plant seeds for personal use are available to “checkout” at our three Library buildings. Our mission is to bring the members of our community together and give them access to free seeds and the information they will need to grow their own plants. We hope to cultivate a flourishing network of gardeners, plant enthusiasts and avid learners who are dedicated to the sharing of seeds and knowledge.
Customers can checkout a variety of herb, vegetable, and native plant seed packets each season. To provide a consistent supply for the entire community, the number of seed packets a customer may take at one time is limited.
We are now accepting donations of herb, vegetable, and other plant seeds, with preference given to Maryland native species! We can only accept clean seeds with clearly identified species information (ex. “Speckled Roman tomato seeds” or “Solanum lycopersicum ‘Speckled Roman’”). We cannot guarantee that donated seeds will immediately go out into circulation, as it takes time for us to process and package seeds for the Library.
We are also accepting donations of time! Please submit a volunteer application if you are interested in regularly volunteering for the S.E.E.D.S. Library at any of our three locations.
Questions about S.E.E.D.S.? Ask at your local Library for information, or email Nicole Bega at nbega@stmalib.org.
April 2024 Offerings
Offerings are subject to change due to limitations on supply at each location.
Vegetables
- Arugula
- Bean, garden
- Beet
- Broccoli
- Broccoli raab
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot, orange
- Carrot, rainbow
- Cauliflower
- Chard, Swiss
- Collard
- Corn, sweet
- Cucumber, American
- Cucumber, English
- Cucumber, pickling
- Eggplant
- Greens, mustard
- Kale, purple
- Kale, curly
- Lettuce
- Lettuce, bibb
- Lettuce, butterhead
- Lettuce, romaine
Vegetables (cont.)
- Muskmelon
- Okra
- Onion, white
- Onion, yellow
- Pea, snow
- Pepper, bell
- Pepper, hot
- Pumpkin
- Radish, purple
- Radish, red
- Spinach
- Squash, spaghetti
- Squash, summer
- Squash, zucchini
- Tomato, beefsteak
- Tomato, cherry
- Tomato, heirloom
- Tomato, roma
- Watermelon
- Watermelon, golden
Herbs
- Basil
- Catgrass
- Chives, garlic
- Chives, onion
- Cilantro (Coriander)
- Cumin
- Dill
- Fennel
- Lavender
- Paprika
- Parsley
- Peppermint
- Sage
- Summer Savory
- Verbena
Native Plants
- Flowering
- Achillea millefolium (Common yarrow)
- Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower)
- Helenium autumnale (Common sneezeweed)
- Hypericum prolificum (Shrubby St. John’s wort)
- Pycnanthemum muticum (Short toothed mountain mint)
- Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Slender mountain mint)
- Pycnanthemum virginianum (American mountain mint)
- Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage)
- Symphyotrichium laeve (Smooth aster)
- Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root)
- Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s needle)
- Grasses
- Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple love grass)
- Panicum virgatum (Switch grass)
- Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
- Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass)
Not sure where to start? Check out the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Resources for Yard & Garden.
Upcoming Events
Using Your Community Seed Library
Saturday, April 27, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Lexington Park Library
Register for Using Your Community Seed Library
Ask a Master Gardener Drop-In Plant Clinics
April through October
Lexington Park Library: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 1 – 3 p.m.
Charlotte Hall Library: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
We extend our utmost appreciation toward our donating organizations: Lowe’s Home Improvement of California, MD; Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay; St. Mary’s County Community Development Corporation; and University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners.