Welcome to Our Seed Library!
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just beginning to explore your green thumb, our Seed Library offers you the opportunity to plant, grow and learn. It is our mission to increase community awareness of all the benefits that gardening and growing plants from seed have on us all. We hope that the growing process, from seed to plant, will foster a common, shared appreciation of all living things.
Share your gardening experiences with us on social media by tagging us @darienlibrary and using the #LoveMyDarienLibrary on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
How to Take Seeds
- Find the Seed Library to the right of the Welcome Desk near the Post Road entrance. It is a refurbished card catalog divided into 4 sections: vegetables, flowers, herbs, and natives & nectars (these are seeds that will attract pollinators!).
- Plan on taking 2 seeds for every plant you intend to grow this season. For example, if you want 5 sunflower plants, take 10 seeds.
- Note the growing instructions on the back of the seed envelope. If you have a camera on your phone, take a picture of the instructions so you have an extra copy! Please let us know if you need a copy of the planting instructions.
- If you need more seeds than what is provided, please use the extra envelopes. Make sure you label your envelope with the seed variety!
- Help us determine what to get next season and stay in the know about future gardening events by leaving your name, email address, and the seeds you took.
Seed Library Index
Because our seed collection is constantly rotating, the following index may not represent what is currently available.
Annuals
- Alyssum – Carpet of Snow
- Autumn Beauty Sunflower
- Black-eyed Susan Vine
- Chrysanthemum Mini - Red
- Citrus Sunflower
- Cleome – White
- Cockscomb Flower
- Cosmos – Double Click Bi-color Pink
- Cosmos – Psyche White
- Cosmos – Seashells Mix
- Edible Sunflowers
- Flax – Scarlett
- Giant Coral Zinnia
- Giant Sunflowers – Heirloom Titan
- Giant Sunflowers - Sunzilla
- Godetia
- Great Quaking Grass
- Impatiens
- Indian Peace Pipes
- Jerusalem Gold Hybrid Sunflower
- Lupine – Pixie Delight
- Lemon Queen
- Lupine - Texas Bluebonnet
- Mammoth Sunflower
- Marigold – Queen Sophia
- Marigold - Summer Splash
- Morning Glory Heavenly Blue
- Nasturtium - Mahogany
- Pansy - Blue
- Sunspot
- Sweet Pea Bouqet Blend
- Sweet Pea Little Sweetheart
- Sweet Pea North Shore
- Sweet Pea – Old Spice Blend
- Sweet Pea – Perfume Delight
- Tip Top Nasturtium
- Torch
- Velvet Queen Sunflower
- Zinnia – California Giants
- Zinnia – Cha-Cha-Cha
- Zinnia – Paintbrush Mixed Colors
- Zinnia – State Fair Gold Medal
Biennials
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Hollyhock – Charter’s Double
- Hollyhock – Happy Lights
- Hollyhock – Indian Spring
- Money Plant – Lunaria
- Sweet William – Lace Mantle
Wild Flower Mixes
- Six Native Varities
Perennials
- Black Berry Lily
- Butterfly Weed / Milkweed – Asclepias tuberosa
- Catnip
- Coreopsis – Double Sunburst
- Delphinium – Pacific Giant Mix
- Dianthus – Ipswich Pnks
- Echinacea – Purple Coneflower
- Lupine – Russell Blend
- Meadow Rue – Lavender Mist
- Primrose Mix
- Shasta Daisy - Alaska
- Swamp Milkweed
- Sweet Pea – Lathyrus Latijolius
- Verbena – Brazilian Vervain
- Viola – Johnny-Jump-up
- Wild Columbine - Light Purple
- Winter Aconite – Eranthis hyemalis – Yellow
- Anise
- Basil (Genovese)
- Basil (Sweet)
- Chamomile - Bodegold
- Cilantro/Coriander
- Dill (Bouquet)
- Fennel (Florence)
- Lamb’s Ears
- Lavender Lady – Lavendula angustifolia
- Lemon Balm
- Mammoth Dill Heirloom
- Marjoram - Sweet
- Oregano – Ferry Morse
- Oregano – Origanum vulgar hirtum
- Parsley – Big Italy
- Parsley – Green Pearl
- Parsley – Triple Curled
- Pepper Cress (Lepidium sativum)
- Rosemary
- Sage (Common)
- Thyme (Common)
- Thyme (Summer)
Artichoke
- Green Globe
Beans
- Bush Filet – French Filet
- Dwarf Horticultural Bean
- French Long Podded Shelling Beans
- Garden Bean- Heavy Harvest
- Garden Bean – Kentucky Wonder
- Garden Bean – Kitchen King
- Garden Bean – Tendergreen
- Lima Bean – Ford Hook 242
- Windsor Fava Bean
Beets
- Chioggia
- Dutch Baby Ball
- Detroit Dark Red
- Early Wonder
- Gourmet Blend
- Jewel-toned, Red Gold, & Candystripe
- Red Baron
Bok Choy
- Tatsoi – Rosette
- Waltham 29 Broccoli
- White Stem
Broccoli
- Di Cicco
- Long Harvest All Season Blend
Broccoli Raab
- Rapini
Brussel Sprouts
- Hestia
- Long Island Improved
Cabbage
- Aubervilliers
- Chinese Michihili
- Copenhagen Market
- Mammoth Red Rock
- Pak Choi
- Red Acre
Carrots
- Carnival Blend
- French Baby
- Little Finger
- Long Sweet Carrots – King Midas
- Purple Sun
- Snacking - Rotild
Cauliflower
- Amazing Taste
- Early Snowball
Celery
- Tall Utah
Chard
- Garden Rainbow
- Italian Silver Rib
Chives
- Garlic
Corn
- Bodacious (Sweet)
- Buttergold (Sweet)
- Casino (Sweet)
- Delectable (Sweet)
- Earth Tones
- Inca Blue Indian Corn
- Sweet Early Casino
- Strawberry
Cucumber
- Burpless Beauty
- Bush Champion
- English Chelsea Prize
- English Telegraph
- Marketmore
- Persian Baby
- Persian Baby – Green Fingers
- Pickle Barrel Hybrid
- Spacemaster
- Sweet Armenia – Heirloom
- True Lemon
Eggplant
- Black Beauty
- Italian Trio
- Listada de Gandia
Ebdive
- Green Curled
Escarole
- Broadleaf Batavian
Kale
- Dwarf Blue Curled
- Italian Lacinato
- Portuguese
- Scarlet
Leek
- American Flag
- King Richard
Lettuce
- Australian Yellowleaf
- Bibb Lettuce
- Black Seeded Simpson
- Buttercrunch
- Chef’s Medley
- Gala Mache
- Heirloom Arugula – Rustic Style
- Iceberg
- Mesclun
- Mesclun – Asian Baby Leaf
- Oak Leaf Blend
- Romaine – Little Gem
- Romaine - Freckles
- Rouge d’Hiver
- Simpson Elite
Melon
- Cantaloup – Hearts of Gold
- Early Silver Line
- Hale’s Best Jumbo
- Honeydew Green Flesh
- Tuscan Melon -Napoli
Mustard
- Myers Family Heirloom
Okra
- Clemson Spineless 80
- Jumbalaya
- Red Burgundy
Onion
- Heirloom Torpedo Onions
- Yellow Granex
Parsnip
- All American
- Hollow Crown
Peas
- Dwarf Gray Sugar
- Shelling Peas -Sabre
- Snow Pea – Purple Podded
- Super Sugar Snap
Peppers
- Ancho Gigantea
- Georgia Flame
- Habanero Hot Pepper
- Heirloom Italian Sweet Peppers Sunset Mix
- Jalapeño, Traveler Strain
- Red Habanero
- Sweet Chocolate Pepper
- Sweet Pepper – Emerald Giant
Pumpkin
- Cinderella’s Carriage
- Early Sugar or Pie
- New England Pie Pumpkin
Radicchio
- Early Treviso
- Palla Rossa Mavrik
Radish
- Cherry Belle
- Crimson Giant
- Easter Egg II
- French Breakfast
- Garden Party- Five Color
- Pink Punch
- Sparkler
- Watermelon
Rutabaga
- American Purple Top
Sorrel
- Common Sorrel
Squash
- Acorn – Table King
- Butternut, Waltham
- Cocozelle – Summer
- Crookneck – Early Summer
- Patisson Panache
- Straightneck, Early Prolific – Summer
- Winter
- Zucchini, Black Beauty – Summer
Spinach
- Bloomsdale
- Bloomsdale – Longstanding
- Catalina Baby Leaf
- Malabar Climbing Red Stem
- Monstreux de Viroflay
- New Zealand
Swiss Chard
- Five Color Silverbeet
- Fordhook Giant
- Ruby Red
Tomato
- Ace 55 - Bush
- Beefsteak – Big Beef
- Black Cherry
- Red Brandywine
- Cherry - Black
- Cherry – Camp Joy
- Cherry- Litt’l Bites
- Cherry- Orange Sungold
- Cherry – Tri- Color Garden Candy
- Chianti Rose
- Golden Jubilee - Pole
- Italian roma - Bush
- Jubilee
- Lemon Drop
- Marglobe
- Marvel Stripe
- Moneymaker - Pole
- San Marzano- Pole
- Speckled Roman
- Stupice
- Summer Feast
- Supersweet 100
- Wapsipinicon Peach
Tomatillo
- Purple De Milpa
Turnip
- Purple Top White Globe
Watermelon
- Charleston Gray
- Crimson Sweet
- Jubilee
- Mountain Yellow Sweet
- Sugar Baby