Seed Library

Native Seed Library at the SLNC Government and Heritage Library

The SLNC Government and Heritage Library (GHL) offers a native seed library to promote the growth of native plants, which are essential to our ecosystems.

The GHL began "lending" seeds in October of 2023 to promote gardening for plants native to North Carolina and the region. You can pick up or donate seeds at our library, located on the first floor of the DNCR Building at 109 East Jones Street in Raleigh.

What is a seed library?

A seed library -- sometimes called a seed exchange -- is a community resource that allows individuals to "check out" seeds, plant the seeds, grow the plants, save the seeds, and ideally return seeds to the library to be "checked out" by other community members. Seed libraries promote sustainability and biodiversity by preserving native, open-pollinated, and heirloom seed varieties.

Many seed libraries prioritize heirloom and native seeds, nurturing plants that serve as vital habitats for birds and essential pollinators while also combatting the spread of invasive species.

What is the SLNC Native Seed Library?

The SLNC Seed Library focuses on seeds for plants indigenous to North Carolina and the surrounding region. Native plants play a crucial role in supporting native species and maintaining the balance of an ecosystem.

By concentrating on native seeds, the SLNC Native Seed Library aims to support the growth of plant varieties that existed in the region before European settlement. Native plants contribute significantly to the local food web and have beneficial relationships with native insects, microbes, birds, mammals, and other indigenous species. These native plants are uniquely adapted to the region’s climate conditions, including sunlight, temperature, precipitation patterns, and soil composition. Native plants are central to promoting sustainable and resilient gardening practices.

How do I get seeds from the SLNC Native Seed Library?

You can pick up seeds at the SLNC Government and Heritage Library during our onsite hours.

Visitors can take up to two seed packets per person.

We ask visitors to sign out their seed selections to help us track the inventory and impact of our seed library.

We welcome visitors to donate native plant seeds and encourage seed library users to save and share seeds from their native plants.

What seeds are in the SLNC Native Seed Library?

Seeds are available on a first-come basis, and our offerings vary by season, availability, and community donations.

As of April 2025, our seed library collection includes:

Black-Eyed Susan - Rudbeckia fulgida
Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis
Common Blue Curls - Trichostema dichotomum
Purple Coneflower - Echinacea purpurea
Purple Passion Flower - Passiflora incarnata
(Last updated 4/16/2025)

How do I donate seeds to the SLNC Native Seed Library?

You can donate seeds to the SLNC Native Seed Library in person at our library, located at 109 East Jones Street.

We accept donations of seeds for plants native to North Carolina. The NC State Extension provides a comprehensive list of native seeds in the Extension Gardener Handbook.

For self-collected seeds, please provide details, including your name, plant name, plant scientific name, collection date, and harvest location. Self-collected seeds may be donated in any sealed container. To prevent disease or contamination, please ensure seed donations are clean, dry, and free of non-seed material.

Commercially packaged seeds can be donated as-is.

Our seed library team will review and repackage seed donations.

If you are not local to Raleigh but wish to donate seeds to our native seed library, please email us at ghl.info@dncr.nc.gov.