Here is a list of 25+ of the best Canadian seed companies, including the types of seeds they specialize in and where to find them online. Many of these companies offer online ordering of a wide variety of seeds, including organic, heirloom, and modern hybrid seeds, and most have pledged not to sell GMO seeds.
1. West Coast Seeds
West Coast Seeds is a major Canadian seed company specializing in a wide variety of seeds for home gardeners. They offer over 1000 types of seeds – everything from vegetables, herbs, flowers, ornamental grass, fruit seeds, and live plant stock such as seed potatoes and dahlia tubers.
West Coast Seeds focuses on producing untreated and organically grown seeds. They offer an increasingly significant amount of certified organic seed, including organically-grown open-pollinated heirloom seed and also some organically-grown modern hybrid varieties.
West Coast Seeds is located in Delta, British Columbia. It was founded in Vancouver in 1983 and is now operated by the Diamond family. West Coast Seeds does not sell any GMO seed and is a founding signatory of the Safe Seed Pledge.
2. Richters Herbs
Richters Herbs is a major Canadian provider of seeds for herb plants, including gourmet culinary herbs and tea plants. They offer seeds and baby plants for many specialty varieties and hard-to-find plants (mainly herbs but also some vegetables and ornamental flowers).
Richters Herbs is located in Goodwood, Ontario (north of Toronto), where it is operated by the Richter family. Richters Herbs does not sell GMO seeds.
3. Veseys Seeds
Veseys Seeds is a large Canadian seed company offering a full line of seeds and plant stock, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits/berries. They sell some conventionally grown seeds as well as many organically grown seeds, and they sell both heirloom open-pollinated seeds and modern hybrid seeds.
Vesey’s Seeds is located in York, Prince Edward Island, where it was originally started by market gardener Arthur Vesey in the 1930s-1940s. Veseys Seeds has signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge.
4. Stokes Seeds
Stokes Seeds is a big Canadian seed company offering a wide variety of garden seeds, including heritage heirlooms and modern hybrids. They offer many AAS-winning varieties and are known for trialing out new seeds extensively before offering them for sale.
Stokes Seeds is located in Thorold, Ontario (just west of Niagra Falls) and is operated by the Gale family. Stokes Seeds does not list any GMO varieties in its seed catalog or on its website.
5. McKenzie Seeds
McKenzie Seeds is a big Canadian seed company offering a vast array of seeds, including vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers, ornamentals, and live plant stock such as asparagus, strawberries, and flower bulbs and tubers. They offer many organic seeds, as well as special collections of gourmet seeds, large-packet value seeds, and competition-size vegetable seeds.
McKenzie Seeds is located in Brandon, Manitoba. The company is over 100 years old. McKenzie’s seeds are available in many big boxes and independent garden centers across Canada. McKenzie does not sell GMO seeds.
6. OSC Seeds (Ontario Seed Company)
OSC Seeds, also called the Ontario Seed Company Ltd., is a major Canadian seed company specializing in seeds for home gardeners. They sell a wide variety of seeds, including many heirlooms, modern hybrids, and some organically-grown seeds (especially their Aimers Organics line of seeds). Their offerings include native plants, wildflowers, forage crops, and even tree seeds.
OSC Seeds retail shop is located in Waterloo, Ontario, where it has operated for over 125 years. The main office for the company is now located in nearby Kitchener. OSC seeds remain family-run and Canadian-owned.
7. The Incredible Seed Co.
The Incredible Seed Co. is a boutique Canadian seed company known for its 500+ plant varieties. All the seeds they sell are open-pollinated, heirloom, and grow true-to-type (perfect for seed saving). They stock everything from heirloom vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit, and even tree seeds!
The Incredible Seed Co. is located in Pleasantville, Nova Scotia (on the shoreline south of Halifax), and is operated by seed farmers Hilary and Christopher Mueller. The Incredible Seed Co. has signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge.
8. William Dam Seeds
William Dam Seeds is a family-run seed company specializing in food crops and flower seeds for small farmers and home gardeners. All their seed is untreated (no chemical treatment applied to their outer seed coat), and they also offer select certified organic seeds, including some organically-grown modern hybrid varieties.
William Dam Seeds is located just outside of Dundas, Ontario, and was started by William and Maria Dam more than 60 years ago. William Dam Seeds has signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge.
9. Heritage Harvest Seed Company
Heritage Harvest Seed is a Canadian seed company that specializes in rare heirloom seeds. They stock 800+ varieties of unusual and endangered plant seeds that include vegetables, flowers, herbs, and ancient grains.
Heritage Harvest Seed is located in Fisher Branch, Manitoba (north of Winnipeg), and is operated by seed grower Tanya Stefanec. All seed is open-pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, and untreated.
10. Early’s Garden Seeds
Early’s Garden Seeds is a farm, garden, and seed supply company specializing in edible crops like vegetables and herbs, as well as select flowers. Located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Early’s Farm & Garden Center has operated for over 100 years!
12. Prairie Garden Seeds
Prairie Garden Seeds is a family-run Canadian seed company that specializes in vegetable and cereal grain seeds. They also stock seeds for annual ornamental grasses and ornamental flowers.
Prairie Garden Seeds is located in Humboldt, Saskatchewan (east of Saskatoon), and is operated by Rachelle Ternier, along with her father Jim Ternier.
13. Northern Wildflowers
Northern Wildflowers is a Canadian seed company that specializes in native wildflowers and short-season vegetable seeds. They grow 30+ wildflower seed crops on their Ontario farm and work with growers and wild seed collectors across Canada.
Northern Wildflowers is located in Sudbury, Ontario, where it is operated by founder Jenny Fortier. You can find their seeds on their website, from select retailers, and at the restoration projects they’re involved in.
14. Lindenberg Seeds
Lindenberg Seeds is a small seed company known for its truly incredible catalog of different seeds and for its live perennial plants available by mail order. The company has been in operation since 1935! Lindenberg Seeds is located in Brandon, Manitoba, and is operated by the Lindenberg family.
15. Gardening Girl Seeds, by Julia Dimakos
Gardening Girl Seeds by Julia Dimakos is a line of seeds offered by a local gardening blogger. She specializes in microdwarf tomato seeds, seeds for a tea garden, and lovely flowers like sweet peas. Julia is located in Mono, Ontario.
16. Les Urbainculteurs
Les Urbainculteurs is an urban gardening organization and seed seller specializing in urban agriculture. They offer mainly edible gardening crops and small-space food crops for city spaces. Les Urbainculteurs is located in Québec City, Québec.
17. T&T Seeds
T&T Seeds is a Canadian garden seed company specializing in both garden seeds and live plants. T&T Seeds is located in Headingley, Manitoba (just west of Winnipeg), and is operated by a small retail staff.
18. W.H. Perron
W. H. Perron is a Canadian horticultural company that offers 1000+ varieties of seeds, as well as live bulbs and roots. They offer both heritage heirloom seeds and modern hybrid types, as well as some organic seeds. W. H. Perron is located in Laval, Québec. W. H. Perron seeds are non-GMO.
19. Les Jardins de l’écoumène (French Canadian Seed Company)
Les Jardins de l’écoumène is an agricultural cooperative specializing in both annual and perennial seeds, including many organic offerings. Les Jardins de l’écoumène is located in Saint-Damien, Québec, and is operated by Guylaine et Jean François.
20. Wildflower Farm & Seed Company
Wildflower Farm is a Canadian seed seller specializing in seeds for native North American wildflowers and grasses. They’re particularly known for their organically-grown, non-GMO, seed mixes. Wildflower Farm is located in Coldwater, Ontario, where it is operated by Miriam Goldberger and Paul Jenkins.
21. Moonglow Gardens
Moonglow Gardens is an Albertan seed company known for its artisanal selection of seeds and boutique mixes. They are known for featuring limited edition seeds and also for their monthly seed subscription offering. Moonglow is located in Sturgeon County, Alberta.
22. Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company
Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company is a Canadian seed company specializing in flowering plant seeds native to Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company is located in Aberdeen, Saskatoon, and is operated by Lisa Grilz and Renny Grilz.
23. Semences du Portage
Semences du Portage is a Canadian seed company focused on offering naturally grown and organic seeds. Semences du Portage is located in Montreal, Québec, where it is operated by a small staff.
24. Wildrose Heritage Seed Company
Wildrose Heritage Seed Company is a Canadian seed company specializing in heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flower seeds. Their seeds are untreated, GMO-free, and packaged in reusable bags to encourage seed saving. Wildrose Heritage Seed Company is located in Lethbridge, Alberta, and has signed the Safe Seed Pledge.
25. The Seed Company by E.W. Gaze
The Seed Company by E.W. Gaze is a Canadian seed seller and garden supply stockist. They offer a full line of garden seeds and the equipment required to grow them into healthy plants.
The Seed Company by E.W. Gaze is located in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It was started in 1925 by Ernest Walter Gaze and is now run by his grandson, Peter Byrne.
26. Annapolis Seeds
Annapolis Seeds is a small seed company specializing in garden seeds for Atlantic Canada. They grow open-pollinated varieties, including many types of heritage heirloom seeds.
Annapolis Seeds is located at Heartseed Farm in Nictaux, Nova Scotia, and is operated by Owen Bridge. Annapolis Seeds has signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge.
27. The Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens is an ornamental botanical garden that offers seeds for many of its ornamental plants. They offer many different flowers – both annuals and perennials. The Butchart Gardens is located in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia.
28. Halifax Seed Company
Halifax Seed is a Canadian seed company specializing in seeds for maritime gardens and small commercial farmers. Each year they produce an extensive catalog of seeds for sale in individual packets, and also for wholesale. Halifax Seed is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it was established in 1866.
29. Urban Harvest
Urban Harvest is a Canadian seed company and garden supply provider focused on urban and small-space gardens. They are known for selling 100% certified organic seeds (all seeds they sell are certified organic). Urban Harvest is located in Warkworth, Ontario (west of Belleville).
30. Pepper Merchant
Pepper Merchant is a specialty seed company that offers specialty pepper seeds for shipping nationally and internationally. They are known for their rare pepper seeds – both mild and hot peppers. Pepper Merchant is located in Almonte, Ontario (west of Ottawa).
31. Kitchen Table Seed House
Kitchen Table Seed House is a new Canadian seed company located on Wolfe Island, Ontario. They are focused on varieties that are both productive and flavorful. All the seeds they offer are open-pollinated and certified organic, with offerings of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Run by seed producers Kathy Rothermel and Annie Richard, this company also grows the majority of the seeds they sell.
“I have been a customer for a few years, and their certified organic seeds are excellent.”
Erika Hutter Burke, Ontario
American seed companies that ship to Canada
Sometimes it can be nearly impossible to source certain specialty seeds from Canadian seed companies. If you’re looking for something specific that isn’t often sold in Canada, there are select USA-based companies that ship seeds to Canada, including:
- Renee’s Garden Seeds
- True Leaf Market Seeds
- Johnny’s Selected Seeds
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Still not convinced? Here’s a list of the 15 top seed companies from the USA, Canada, and a variety of other places!
Another Canadian seed company with heirloom varieties is Nana’s Naturals: https://nanasnaturalsseedcan.wordpress.com/seeds/