Little Free “Seed” Library
Posted Oct 05, 2021
New free native seed library and plant nursery in Tempe
By Erik Chait, Phoenix Chapter Member
I am happy to announce a new native seed library and plant nursery that I created in front of my home in Tempe.
I realize that many people in the Valley are not originally from here. There is a real lack of knowledge concerning which plants are native. Another other thing restricting people from planting native plants, besides knowledge, is cost. I figured this native Sonoran Desert seed library solved both issues in one package. You know you are getting native plant seeds and they are free!
The current offering of free seeds includes:
- Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradia)
- Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua)
- Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
- Desert Senna (Senna covesii)
- Arizona Caltrop (Kallstroemia grandiflora)
- Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
In mid-October the following flowers will be added:
- Parry’s Beardtongue (Penstemon parryi)
- Blanketflower (Gaillardia pinnatifida)
- Desert Chia (Salvia columbariae)
- Southwestern Pricklypoppy (Argemone pleiacantha)
Current free plant offerings include:
- Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina)
- Foothills/Yellow Paloverde (Parkinsonia microphylla)
In mid-October the following trees will be added:
- Desert Ironwood (Olneya Tesota)
- Smoke Tree (Psorothamnus spinosus)
- Blue Paloverde (Parkinsonia florida)
Please feel free to stop by and help yourself! My native seed library and plant nursery is located near the Loop 101 freeway and Baseline Road in Tempe. For the exact location, please visit the Little Free Library website and search for charter number 129689.
The seed library and nursery are well lit at nighttime if you are not able to stop by during the day. The library and nursery also has its own FM radio station. When you pull up, please tune to 87.9 MHz on your car radio for information about the library and nursery.
