Jan 9, 2026

AHS and Burpee launch America’s 250th Anniversary Seed Collection

The American Horticultural Society has partnered with Burpee and three historical institutions to release four commemorative seed collections marking America’s 250th anniversary.

The collections were developed in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Museum of the American Revolution. The initiative highlights the role of gardening in early American history and connects historic plant selections with modern home and greenhouse growing.

One collection, the Colonial Dooryard Herb Garden, was created with Burpee and draws inspiration from the historic gardens at River Farm, the AHS headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The set includes eight herbs commonly grown in early American kitchen gardens: chamomile, chives, dill, fennel, hyssop, lemon balm, nasturtium and parsley.

Additional offerings in the America’s 250th Anniversary Seed Collection include Martha Washington’s Kitchen Garden, Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden and The Declaration Bouquet collection. Each packet includes historical context and planting guidance, making the seeds suitable for gardeners as well as educational and retail programs.

“Horticulture has always rooted us in family, community, and the rich history that defines our nation,” said Suzanne Laporte, president and ceo of the American Horticultural Society.

For greenhouse growers and garden retailers, the collections offer themed seed products tied to a major national milestone and consumer interest in heritage gardening. The seed collections are available through Burpee while supplies last.