Trusted Addresses

Barnhaven Primroses is a nursery specialising in the cultivation and selection of collector's primroses and auriculas. Founded in the 1940s in the United States and later relocated to Brittany (France), it produces rare varieties with exceptional colours, grown from carefully selected seed. Barnhaven is internationally recognised by enthusiasts for the quality and diversity of its hybrids.

Careful packaging – fast delivery

Flos Sabaudiae is a Savoyard nursery founded in 2001 by Thibaut and Lydia, specialising in alpine and mountain plants. The nursery stands out for its selection of rare species, wild plants and botanical specimens sourced from mountain ranges around the world, with a strong commitment to biodiversity and the preservation of threatened species.

A collection of alpine plants, shrubs and roses. The Brochet-Lanvin nursery, located in Nanteuil-la-Forêt on the Montagne de Reims (Marne), cultivates alpine plants with a well-established reputation for saxifrages, offering an extensive collection spanning 5 main sections. Founded by Dominique Brochet, a passionate mountain flora enthusiast and former president of the SAJA (Société des Amateurs de Jardins Alpins).

Established in 2015 following the acquisition of François Gouin's collection, this nursery is set in the countryside south of Lyon, in the Vienne area. It is home to one of France's largest collections of hardy succulents: nearly 1,000 Sempervivum, 150 Sedum, 100 Opuntia and 50 Delosperma.

Sarastro is an Austrian nursery whose catalogue ranks among the richest in Europe for collector's perennials and alpine plants from around the world. Its collections are exceptional: primulas, wood anemones, ranunculus and many other rarities impossible to find elsewhere. Its own introductions have won awards across the globe, as far afield as Chicago, and in 2022 the American PPA awarded it the International Contributor Award — a distinction rarely bestowed upon a European nursery. On site, a 5,000 m² display garden allows visitors to see the plants growing in context. Prices are reasonable — which, for a nursery of this calibre, is well worth noting. A place of pilgrimage for the serious enthusiast, with careful shipping.

Herman Laporte is a Belgian enthusiast and collector who has assembled the largest private collection of Daphne in existence — a genus with a reputation for being temperamental, which he handles with rare expertise. Alongside this exceptional collection, he also offers a fine selection of alpine plants and rhododendrons. For the discerning collector – exceptionally careful packaging.

A nursery that is not quite like any other. Behind this botanically-minded catalogue lies a genuine passion for alpine plants, but also perennials, bulbs and shrubs — where rare finds impossible to source elsewhere are waiting to be discovered. And if you are lucky enough to chat with Cathy, you will find a woman as engaging as her catalogue is surprising. Award-winning at the botanical jury of Beervelde — a well-deserved recognition.

Founded in 1956 by Walter Meusel — musician, composer and botanist — this arctic-alpine garden in Chemnitz (Saxony) specialises in mountain and arctic plants. Following the founder's death in 1990, the Walter-Meusel Foundation has ensured its continuity, supporting research and species conservation projects with the backing of the city of Chemnitz and the Free State of Saxony.

Well-developed plants in a mineral substrate – careful packaging.

Founded in 1886 by Franz Sündermann and passed down from father to son across four generations, this nursery specialising in alpine and rock garden plants is one of the oldest and most highly regarded in the world. It has introduced and cultivated species from all five continents, and remains renowned for historic introductions such as Saxifraga haagii, now widely grown throughout the world.

Well-developed plants – careful packaging

A nursery specialising in the propagation of rare and exceptional plants: choice rock garden plants, ornamental perennials, rare bulbs and tubers, hardy outdoor orchids, and a particular focus on daphnes (Daphne).

For the discerning collector – careful packaging.

A mountain plant nursery growing more than 1,500 species and varieties sourced from almost every major mountain range in the world: primulas, campanulas, pinks, saxifrages and more. Flora Montana offers a wide selection of compact, well-developed alpine plants, grown without forced feeding or shade-induced etiolation. During transit, plants are secured and protected in cedar wood shavings, whose natural antiseptic properties help prevent the spread of fungi and pests. Operations are currently suspended while the nursery undergoes relocation under the direction of Christopher Short.

A family nursery founded by Volkmar Schara, whose passion for houseleeks dates back to 1987, specialising in hardy succulents. It offers an outstanding selection of Sempervivum (over 3,000 varieties, including many in-house cultivars), Jovibarba, Delosperma (hardy mesembryanthemums), as well as Allium, Festuca, Orostachys, Rhodiola and other genera. All plants are grown outdoors on a peat-free substrate, watered exclusively with rainwater, in a spirit of genuine respect for the environment and the natural world.

A family nursery established in 1924, now in its 4th generation with Susanne Peters, trained in horticulture and supported by her husband Jürgen, a specialist in alpine rarities. The nursery cultivates alpine plants, with particularly strong collections of European and Japanese hepaticas, as well as saxifrages...

Located at 800 metres above sea level near Turin, Marco Picca is a passionate collector who has spent many years cultivating an exceptional range of alpine flora, with particular attention given to genera considered challenging: Gentiana, Helleborus, Corydalis, Pulsatilla, Saxifraga, Daphne, Aconitum, Ranunculus... His plants are of fine quality, grown without forcing. A list of available species is provided on request. Fast and careful dispatch.

A family nursery based in Sapporo, in northern Japan, at a latitude equivalent to that of the French Alps. Yuzawa Engei offers an export selection of rare Japanese plants — Trillium, Heloniopsis, Erythronium japonicum, Ranzania japonica, summer bulbs — as well as seeds. The plant list is updated every September, and the seed list every July. Orders are handled personally by Sachiyo, in English.

A family nursery specialising exclusively in saxifrages, with a focus on two sections: Porophyllum (Kabschia) and Ligulatae (Silver saxifrages). The online catalogue lists all cultivars and botanical species available to collectors. Lists of species available for sale are published each spring and autumn, on request by email.

For the discerning collector – careful packaging.

A family nursery specialising in alpine plants — Lewisia, Rhodohypoxis, Gentiana, Saxifraga, Dianthus, dwarf Rhododendron, Daphne and dwarf Hosta. All plants are grown outdoors. Shipping available — although resolving delivery issues can prove difficult.

Beata Grabowska and Tomasz Kubala, passionate botanists and specialist authors, travel the world to study plants in their natural habitat and bring that expertise to bear on a demanding nursery. A selection of uncommon, well-grown alpine species. Careful dispatch.

A landscape architect by training and long-standing member of the Bratislava Rock Garden Club, Alexandra Rovná has been growing alpine plants since 1988, with a remarkable selection of Andean species. Multilingual catalogue, fast delivery, careful packaging.

A specialist producer for over 85 years, based in Plestin-les-Grèves (Côtes-d'Armor). Seeds harvested on site from historic primrose strains (auriculas, vulgaris, polyanthus, sieboldii, candelabra, denticulata…), the majority hand-pollinated, complemented by hellebore seeds (sold fresh) and cyclamen. Grown without pesticides or chemical fertilisers, high germination rates, international reputation.

An interesting online shop for sedums and green roof plants, as well as a wide range of herbaceous species: annuals, perennials, wildflowers and ornamental grasses, suited to borders, beds, wildflower meadows and pollinator-friendly spaces. Also offers a range certified under the Végétal local – Massif Central label (seeds of certified regional genetic origin, well suited to ecological restoration and natural mid-altitude gardens). Their primary speciality, however, remains tree and shrub seeds (deciduous, conifers, palms); a generalist catalogue of over 1,000 varieties.

A world reference for the flora of southern Africa: several thousand species, including Protea, Leucadendron, Erica and other Cape Fynbos plants, bulbs (Gladiolus, Moraea, Nerine…), succulents (Aloe, Lithops…) and a selection of Drakensberg plants hardy in cool climates. International shipping with phytosanitary certificate.

A world-leading seed merchant for perennials, with a catalogue of over 3,700 species and cultivars (garden perennials, alpines, grasses, wildflower meadows, medicinal plants). Of particular interest to the amateur grower: their "fast germinating" range (seeds with dormancy already broken), which allows successful germination within just a few weeks of species normally considered difficult — hellebores, peonies, gentians, pulsatillas, aconites — where conventional sowing often takes one to two years. Each species is assigned a germination code detailing the conditions required (light, cold, alternating temperatures…), making it an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to improve their perennial seed-sowing skills.

Rare-Dionysien (Josef Mayr) — a historic website, now no longer active. Worth a visit for the sheer pleasure of its remarkable photographs of Dionysia and Oncocyclus irises, drawn from one of the finest European collections of alpine house plants.

An extensive catalogue of rare plant seeds: Canary Islands endemics (his speciality, collected on site), South African bulbs, Mediterranean flora, alpines and tropical curiosities. Well-documented listings, international shipping.

A catalogue of seeds collected in the wild and from the garden: rock garden plants, alpine perennials, Corydalis, Paeonia, Primula, terrestrial orchids, and a well-regarded speciality in Hepatica. Offers moist-packed seeds for recalcitrant species. Ships to the EU.

A wide selection of seeds from the Chilean flora, from the high Andes to the Pacific: over 2,200 unusual species documented by Mikhail Belov, with field photographs and botanical notes.

Caveat: the message on the homepage is unrelated to any botanical context.

Seemnemaailm ("The World of Seeds") is an Estonian company founded in 1998 in Tartu. It offers a very extensive catalogue of flower, vegetable, medicinal and aromatic plant seeds, with a fine collection of perennials drawn from international selections that are regularly refreshed (5 to 6 updates per year).

Multilingual website (French included), detailed information, international shipping.

A Greek botanist and collector, trained at UC Davis and an active member of the Mediterranean Garden Society. Offers a remarkable catalogue of seeds and bulbs of Mediterranean plants, including collections of Oxalis and salvias.

Seedaholic is an Irish family seed company founded in 2005, offering nearly 2,500 seed varieties: perennials, annuals, biennials, rock garden plants, herbs, vegetables and wildflowers. The company is particularly well regarded for its fine collection of perennials and for the care taken in informing the gardener. Organic certification. International shipping.

A Dutch company specialising in botanical bulbs, which also offers a small selection of rare seeds (around thirty references), including Campanula perposila, Dionysia iranshahrii, Matthiola alyssifolia… for enthusiasts of alpine plants and rarities.

A Polish seed company run by a dedicated enthusiast, particularly worth exploring for seeds rarely found in commerce, with a fine selection of perennials, alpine plants and rock garden plants.

A family seed company established since 1975 (Cumbria, then Wallingford), with an extensive catalogue of seeds for perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, exotic and rare ornamental plants. Detailed and well-written descriptions, a reputation for reliability. A well-maintained online shop, international shipping.

A small nursery offering a selection of rare and unusual seeds, with a marked preference for hardy Asian perennials (Corydalis, Paeonia, Polygonatum, Helleborus thibetanus, Impatiens omeiana…). Many of the seeds offered are impossible to find elsewhere, often sourced from wild collections. Seed shipping to the EU available.

Alpine and perennial plants.

A very extensive catalogue (over 3,000 varieties) of seeds for perennials, annuals, alpines, trees and shrubs, with many exclusives from their own hybridising and selection work (notably Aquilegia, Digitalis, Meconopsis, Primula). Nicknamed "the seedsman's seedsman", the company is renowned for the breadth of its range and its rarities at accessible prices, though varietal purity and germination quality are not always consistent. Seed shipping to the EU available.

A very extensive seed catalogue (perennials, alpines, frost-hardy shrubs and palms, European and Australian flora, bulbs, irises…). Membership scheme with preferential pricing. Attractive prices on rarities.

⚠️ Caution: delivery not guaranteed, payment by bank transfer with no recourse.

A renowned Czech botanist and collector, head of the Czech Republic's plant gene bank and national coordinator of plant genetic resources. A passionate enthusiast of alpine and high-mountain plants, he has organised numerous botanical expeditions since the 1990s to Central Asia (Tian Shan, Pamir, Alai), the Far East (Kamchatka, Sakhalin), China (Kunlun, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet) and Argentina. Each year he offers wild-collected seeds of great rarity, accompanied by precise provenance data (altitude, locality). The seed list is not published online: it must be requested by email from 15 November onwards. Co-author with David Horák of The Tian Shan and its Flowers (2017). Former president of the Czech Rock Garden Club and recipient of the AGS Lyttel Trophy.

One of the finest seed offerings for alpine plants currently available. Czech enthusiast Michal Rejzek offers seeds of documented wild provenance (locality and altitude specified for each batch), covering a remarkably broad geographic range — from the Balkans to the Eastern Alps, from the Andes to Asia. The catalogue favours botanical species in their original form, far removed from any horticultural selection: alpine plants, mountain perennials, wild meadow and woodland flora. Wide choice and good availability.

A German importer-wholesaler who accepts orders from private individuals subject to a minimum purchase. A broad but very well-stocked range: spring and summer bulbs, naturalising collections. A reliable address for planting in quantity, with some cultivars rarely available in France.

A Greek botanist and collector, trained at UC Davis and an active member of the Mediterranean Garden Society. Offers a vast collection of rare bulbs and geophytes from mediterranean-climate regions worldwide (Mediterranean basin, South Africa, California, Chile, Australia): Crocus, Colchicum, Fritillaria, botanical Cyclamen, Babiana, Ferraria, Calochortus, Brodiaea… Shipping within the European Union.

A small Dutch family business based in Lisse, run by Eric Breed, his wife Welmoed and their son Bastiaan, who continue the vast bulb collection built up by Eric's father, Kees Breed. Everything is planted and lifted by hand, with a collector's passion. The online shop offers the surplus from this collection — sometimes a generously filled packet, sometimes only one or two bulbs when it comes to very rare varieties. It is a rare opportunity to acquire true collector's items: historic bulbs, old cultivars, botanical gems.

A Dutch family business founded in the 1970s by Peter and Annette Nijssen, now run by the second generation. The annual catalogue offers over 750 varieties of rare bulbs and tubers: Rembrandt tulips from the Hortus Bulborum, autumn crocuses, English snowdrops, giant alliums and many other rarities, sourced from an international network of specialists (England, France, Latvia, Lithuania). A commitment to sustainability: no chemical fertilisers or pesticides, with a growing range of organically grown bulbs.

Specialising in aquatic and marginal plants, with a broad and expert range of perennials and ferns. No ordinary nursery: a grower who is at once poet, educator and pond technician — the go-to address for healthy plants and genuinely useful advice.

A European reference for the Mediterranean garden without irrigation. Since the 1980s, Olivier and Clara Filippi have travelled the Mediterranean basin to source, acclimatise and grow plants from garrigue and arid steppe: cistus, phlomis, shrubby sages, thymes, santolinas, euphorbias, and ground-covering plants that tolerate foot traffic as an alternative to lawn. A highly detailed online catalogue with precise ecological profiles (cold, drought, salt and foot-traffic tolerance). Olivier Filippi's books (A Garden Without Water, Alternatives to Grass, Planting Design for Dry Gardens) are authoritative works in the field.

A conservatory nursery in the heart of the Luberon, run by Gérard Weiner — botanist, explorer and seed hunter who has spent thirty years travelling the mediterranean regions of the world. He offers for sale a portion of a vast collection numbering over 20,000 varieties of rare, drought-tolerant and highly ornamental plants, grown without fertilisers under conditions that replicate their natural habitat.

A nursery in Lorraine, born in 1994 from Monique Chevry's all-consuming passion for her garden and for sharing it with others. Specialising in hardy perennials suited to a continental climate and clay-limestone soils, it brings together plants of yesterday — heritage perennials, including the celebrated Lorraine introductions of the Lemoine family, father and son — with the plants of today: recent, uncommon or little-known varieties. Small-batch production guided by a love of diversity.

Founded by Willy De Wilde in 2004 and located in the Dordogne region, in the heart of the Barrade forest, between Sarlat and Périgueux, the Pépinière du Lac des Joncs cultivates grasses and daylilies using artisanal methods, free from chemical fertilisers and pesticides, developing new hybrids each year from its own crossbreeding programme. It also offers a wide collection of perennials and a selection of uncommon rockery plants, produced in limited quantities.

Located on the outskirts of Angers, in the heart of France's leading horticultural region, this family nursery has been growing perennials for over 60 years. Each year, more than 3 million perennials and grasses are produced, over 75% of which are propagated in-house. The catalogue covers more than 2,500 varieties.