Seed & Gift Store: Seed Collections

One of the most cherished features of the Seed & Gift Store is our extensive seed collection. Since the early 1920s, Butchart Gardens staff have hand-packaged seeds, a tradition we proudly continue today.

This spring, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our seed collections, including the Benevenuto Collection and Butchart Gardens Seed Collections, featuring our favourite easy-to-grow flowers.

Benvenuto Collection

The Benvenuto Collection celebrates a rich gardening legacy. Each seed packet features beautiful watercolour art, painted by our in-house artist as a tribute to the original seeds first packaged in the 1920s.

The story of the Benvenuto Collection begins with Jennie Butchart herself. After many visitors requested seeds from her stunning gardens, Jennie created a special area just for seed collection. By 1920, this seed field had blossomed to cover the entire lawn, stretching all the way to the entrance gate and bus parking area. The abundance of varieties grown, and the seeds collected, helped establish the Benvenuto Seed Company.

In those early days, the sale of packaged seeds provided vital support for the gardens, as there was no admission fee to help with maintenance. Generations ago, collecting, drying, and packaging seeds was a hands-on tradition, made easier by the lack of cross-pollination risks.

As times changed in the early 1970s and new homes grew up around the gardens, it became harder to harvest seeds on-site. Today, we source high-quality, tested seeds from top producers, and our dedicated Seed & Gift Store team hand-packages them with the same care as Jennie once did.

The Benvenuto Collection includes a timeless selection of five favourites: Aster, Cosmos, Larkspur, Sweet Pea, and Zinnia.

Butchart Gardens Seed Collections

Looking to add some colour and charm to your garden this season? These collections make it easy to grow a beautiful, vibrant display no matter your space or level of experience.

Explore the collections:

• Rock Garden Collection: Add texture and interest to rockeries with choices such as Ageratum, Alyssum (Saxatile or Rosie O’Day), Aubrieta, Rockcress, or Soapwort.
• Window Box Collection: Brighten up patios and balconies with easy-to-grow beauties like Alyssum, Candytuft, Lobelia, Marigold, Nasturtium, Poor Man’s Orchid, or Zinnia.
• Cottage Garden Collection: Bring classic cottage charm to your garden with favourites like Columbine, Aster, Hollyhock, Lupin, and Larkspur.
• Annual Collection: Enjoy a lively mix that may include Bachelor’s Button, Calendula, Clarkia, Dahlia, and Poppy—perfect for a burst of seasonal colour.
• Perennial Collection: Create lasting beauty with a selection that may feature Hollyhock, Lupin, Iceland Poppy, Painted Daisy, and Shasta Daisy.

Whether you have a spacious yard, a cozy balcony, or anything in between, there’s a Butchart Gardens Seed Collection to suit your style.