Seeds & Roots from Barbolian Fields

New Seeds for 2022 (collected in 2021)

We didn’t collect nearly as many seeds this last year as we have in years previous. Below is our current list. To order, please contact me.

We still operate on a “gift economy” basis – pay what you can – or just the postage. Spread plants and cheer!

  • Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Arnica (Arnica chamissonis)
  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
  • Black-Eyed Susan / Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida)
  • Chinese Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis)
  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
  • Crocosmia (Crocosmia aurea)
  • Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
  • Garlic bulbils (mixed varieties) (Allium sativum)
  • Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
  • Kenaf / Indian Hemp (Hibiscus cannabinus)
  • Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
  • Oats (Avena sativa)
  • Passionfruit / Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)
  • Rhubarb (Rheum spp)
  • Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
  • Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
  • Sea Kale (Crambe maritime)
  • Siberian Pea Shrub (Caragana arborescens)

Note: I do not include general vegetable seeds in this list, which are readily available from many seed outlets – but yes, I will always have red runner beans! 

For the full plant list of what we grow: Ultimate Barbolian Fields Plant List

Click here for a list of Seeds that Need Cold Stratification to Germinate.

Over the years, the seed crops have been absolutely amazing! Many thanks to our bee friends!

Barbolian Fields Seeds
Sorry! We no longer make these fun seed packets! But they were kind of fun!

Our “Gift Economy” Policy

We are no longer selling our seeds in local stores. We share seeds on a “gift economy” basis, meaning, I do not have prices for them. We do, however, accept donations (see the donate button via PayPal) and I am also willing to trade – or you can promise to “pay it forward.”

Some plants and seeds are in very limited supply, difficult to propagate, or can be hard or expensive to obtain (such as the Andean roots) — for those, we can negotiate a price that works for both of us.

I do ask that you cover postage if I need to mail them to you. 

So – If you see something you want, send me an email & if I can, I’ll send you a good healthy bunch in the spirit of spreading plant life and to make it worth your while. No fancy packets. Not all that clean, either. Plus, these seeds have not undergone germination trials to determine germination rates.

I collect a lot of seeds and am willing to share, but I must add that I have SO much respect for small independent seed companies that can provide these assurances and a quality product; I encourage everyone to support them.

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Last Year’s Seeds (collected in 2020 for 2021)

We might still have some of these and they are probably still good. Interested? Please contact me.

  • Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
  • Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Arnica (Arnica chamissonis)
  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
  • Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
  • Blue Bean Tree (Decaisnea fargesii)
  • Borage (Borago officinalis)
  • Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
  • Celery herb (Apium graveolens)
  • Chinese Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis)
  • Chinese Yam (Dioscorea batatas)
  • Clary (Salvia sclarea)
  • Crocosmia (Crocosmia aurea)
  • Flax (mixed varieties) (Linum usitatissimum)
  • Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
  • Good King Henry (Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus)
  • Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
  • Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
  • Kenaf / Indian Hemp (Hibiscus cannabinus)
  • Madder (Rubia tinctorum)
  • Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
  • Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
  • Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
  • Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
  • Nettles (Urtica dioica)
  • Passionfruit / Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)
  • Phacelia (Phacelia sp.)
  • Poppies (Papaver spp.)
  • Purple Goosefoot / “Tree Spinach” (Chenopodium giganteum)
  • Quince (Cydonia oblonga)
  • Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
  • Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
  • Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica)
  • Skirret (Sium sisarum)
  • Spilanthes / Toothache plant (Acmella oleracea)
  • St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
  • Udo (Aralia cordata)
  • Welsh Onions (Allium fistulosum)

Roots & Bulbs

  • American Groundnut (Apios americana)
  • Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposita)
  • Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) – always available!
  • Mashua (Troepaeolum tuberosum)
  • Nettle roots (Urtica dioica)
  • Oca Root (Oxalis tuberosa)
  • Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus)

“Cultivating and conserving diversity is no luxury in our times: it is a survival imperative.”

— Vandana Shiva

Some Thoughts About Growing, Harvesting, Packaging and Selling Seeds….

Preserving the integrity and diversity of our seeds is a ton of work!

I mean, you nurture the plant all year, sometimes going to great lengths to prevent cross-pollination, harvest the seeds at just the right time, keep them all separate while they cure, clean them through assorted screens, winnowing in the wind, or whatever way you can come up with, properly store them to preserve freshness, gather photos and information and design seed packets – and try to get your printer to print them, weigh out the seeds (some so tiny, they are weighed by grams; others large enough to count), contact potential store outlets and distribute … and when it’s all said and done, you might get a couple bucks for a packet, because the store needs a mark-up, too…. 

And yet, preserving our seeds is one of the most important things we can do to preserve our food security.  

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Thank you for supporting small independent seed companies if you are in a position to do so! 

“Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being.”         — Vandana Shiva

A Word About Noxious Weeds:

Noxious weeds are invasive, non-native, and can threaten both wildlife habitat and regionally important agricultural crops. About half of the listed noxious weeds are escapees from gardens. It is important that if we grow these plants, which may indeed have useful properties, that we are mindful to control their growth and prevent unwanted spread.  The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board website is an excellent source of information about noxious weeds. Check it out! 

The following are common plants that are on the Washington State Noxious Weed list. Seed companies do have these for sale – and they don’t always state how invasive they can be. Buyer beware!

Bugloss, Common – Anchusa officinalis
Clary Sage – Salvia sclarea
Fennel (common and bronze) – Foeniculum vulgare
Iris, Yellow Flag – Iris pseudacornus
Mugwort – Artemesia vulgaris
Russian Olive – Elaeagnus angustifolia
Saint John’s Wort – Hypericum perforatum
Woad, dyers – Isatis tinctoria
Wormwood – Artemisia absinthium

(Mugwort is not on the official list – but it should be. I think any of the Artemisias can be extremely invasive. Also of note, Bachelor Buttons are on the Watch List – and I so love this plant!)