RHS membership

RHS Members’ Seed Scheme

Running since 1905, the RHS Seed Scheme draws upon the charity’s diverse plant collections and wealth of expertise to offer RHS Members the exclusive opportunity to get seed harvested from RHS Gardens

Pick your RHS Seeds in 2026

Celebrate 120 years of the RHS Members’ Seed Scheme with an exciting new approach. For 2026, seed selection will take place in person at one of five RHS Gardens: Bridgwater (Greater Manchester), Harlow Carr (North Yorkshire), Hyde Hall (Essex), Rosemoor (Devon), or Wisley (Surrey).

Enjoy winter gardens at their finest, then pick up seeds to grow at home. Explore 24 curated collections, each offering five packs of seeds harvested from the gardens themselves. It’s a wonderful chance to connect with nature and bring a piece of the RHS into your own space.

“The seed for the scheme comes from the exceptional plant collections held by the RHS. For 2026, there are 24 collections that cater to all levels, from beginners to more experienced gardeners. Happy seed sowing.”

Heather Cooke, Team Leader, Seed and Wellbeing

What’s in the RHS Seed Collections?

From AGM winners to pollinator-friendly picks, discover themed sets for every garden style:

Award winners
  • AGM Collection 1
  • AGM Collection 2
Seasonal colour
  • Annuals Collection 1
  • Annuals Collection 2
Specialist picks
  • Connoisseur Collection 1
  • Connoisseur Collection 2
Easy choices
  • Easy-to-Grow Collection 1
  • Easy-to-Grow Collection 2
Naturalistic planting
  • Prairie Collection 1
  • Prairie Collection 2
  • Meadow-Mix Collection 1
  • Meadow-Mix Collection 2

Structural interest
  • Grasses Collection
  • Shrubs Collection
  • Trees and Shrubs Collection
Perennial beauty
  • Herbaceous Perennials Collection 1
  • Herbaceous Perennials Collection 2
  • Herbaceous Perennials Collection 3
  • Herbaceous Perennials Collection 4
Wildlife friendly
  • Plants for Pollinators Collection 1
  • Plants for Pollinators Collection 2
Shade solutions
  • Shade Collection 1
  • Shade Collection 2
Drought tolerant
  • Drought-tolerant collection

How to get your RHS Seeds

Learn how to pick up your seeds and support the RHS Members’ Seed Scheme:

RHS Members can pick up seeds at RHS Gardens between 5 January and 7 March 2026. Collections will be displayed in the visitor services area near the garden entrance. Show a valid RHS Membership card and choose up to two favourite seed sets to take home. A suggested donation of £5 for one set or £10 for two helps support the collection, cleaning, storage, and packaging of seeds, and can be made when collecting. It’s a simple way to enjoy the scheme and keep it thriving for years to come.

Plan ahead by browsing the full seed list and germination guide to find the varieties you’d like to grow before your visit.

Full seed list and germination guide
RHS Seed team
RHS Seed team volunteers helping to pack seed orders

Please note: The seed collections for the RHS Members’ Seed Scheme are subject to availability and while stocks last.

Frequently asked questions about the scheme

Find answers to the most common questions about the RHS Members’ Seed Scheme:

Who can access the seed scheme?
The RHS Members’ Seed Scheme is available exclusively to RHS Members. RHS Membership provides access to this benefit, along with many other gardening-related resources and opportunities.

Join the RHS today >
Why can’t seeds be ordered online this year?
Seed ordering is unavailable online this year due to system updates aimed at improving future service. As part of this process, the scheme is being trialled in the RHS Gardens.
What if you don’t live near an RHS Garden?
Distance from an RHS Garden does not affect eligibility. When the annual RHS Seed Scheme opens, members who are not local can still take part. Browse the seed list and email the RHS Seed Team at [email protected]. The team will respond with instructions on how to place an order. Once the order is submitted, seeds will begin being dispatched from January 2026 onwards.

Please note: Seeds can only be posted to addresses within the UK.
Will the plants be the same as the original?
Not always. The seeds are collected from open-pollinated plants, which means they may have been naturally cross-pollinated. As a result, the plants grown from them might not look exactly like the parent and could show mixed or unexpected traits.
Are any of the seeds harmful?
Possibly. While every effort is made to highlight those seeds which are known to be toxic, it should be assumed that ALL seed could be potentially harmful or cause skin irritation.
Are invasive species included in the seed scheme?
No – the RHS Seed team works to exclude seeds from potentially invasive species.

Looking for specific seed advice?

Get advice on all the basics, from germinating seeds and collecting them at home to expert tips on seed care:

Get in touch

If you are looking to commercialise the genetic material, its products or resources derived from it, please get in touch with the RHS Seed team.
 

Email

[email protected]

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The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.