Are Dollar Tree Seeds Worth It? Gardeners on Reddit Share What Really Happens When You Plant Them
Find out if these affordable seed packets can help you grow a beautiful garden this season
Picture this: You’re strolling through Dollar Tree and spot colorful seed packets for a steal! You are delighted by the bargain, but then have second thoughts. Can seeds this affordable really grow into the lush garden of your dreams? Gardeners who’ve put these budget-friendly packets to the test have the answers you need! We took a closer look at these budget-friendly Dollar Tree seeds to see how they hold up to the competition and why Dollar Tree shoppers continue to buy them.
What are Dollar Tree seeds?
Along with affordable gardening supplies, Dollar Tree also sells seeds for herbs, produce and flowers! They come in 5-gram packets produced by the American Seed company, which has been around since 1977. While seed prices have continued to increase in recent years, the Dollar Tree inventory remains affordable!
In 2025, the retailer was selling American Seed packets for $1.25 for a set of four. By contrast, other brands such as Ferry Morse may cost $1.95 for a single 6-gram packet.
The low cost is appealing, but does that mean the quality suffers? In one Reddit thread, avid gardeners weighed in about whether the seeds are worth buying or if you should purchase them elsewhere. Keep reading to learn what they had to say!
What gardeners say about Dollar Tree seeds
The good: Why gardeners love Dollar Tree seeds
They provide plenty of produce
When you’re growing herbs and vegetables, a bountiful harvest is usually the end goal! Though environmental factors and care can impact how much plants are able to produce, seed quality can also play a factor.
Thankfully, American Seeds can deliver that incredible homegrown taste and garden-fresh quality you’re hoping for!
“I have bought it all from the Dollar Tree: veggies, flowers, and herbs,” revealed one shopper. “I have not had any issues with any of it…healthy plants that were productive and tasty harvest.”
They germinate well
If you choose to grow your own plants rather than buying transplants (seedlings) from a horticultural nursery or retail store, germination can be a concern. Ideally, you’ll want all of the seeds you plant to sprout. This not only saves you time and money because you don’t have to start over again if they don’t grow, but it gives you more of a chance of having healthy plants.
The truth behind the Dollar Tree packets: Several shoppers revealed their seeds grew without a problem.
“I got flower and herb seeds and had a 100-percent success rate,” shared a gardener. “I even got radish seeds and again the vast majority germinated.”
A good germination rate is considered to be 80 percent, so having more than that sprout is fantastic news!
They’re ideal for novices
For those who are new to gardening, it can be hard to know what you will enjoy growing or which plants will thrive in your environment. If you have to shell out a lot for seeds, it can be disappointing if things don’t go the way you planned!
The good news? If you’re only spending $1.25 for four packets, you won’t lose much money if the plants don’t do well.
“I think they’re great for trying out new plants,” suggested a commenter. “I tend to kill plants the first season, so they’re a great way to experiment cheaply.”
This can also be helpful for more experienced gardeners who simply want to try growing a new variety of a plant.
The bad: Potential drawbacks to consider
The plants can be smaller
While some gardeners insisted they had healthy plants when growing Dollar Tree seeds, others didn’t have as much luck.
“I bought some zinnia seeds,” a shopper shared. “They grew OK, but they weren’t very big. Sort of small and spindly compared to some of the other varieties I’ve grown.”
It’s possible that the growing conditions made a difference, but this feedback is certainly something to consider.
The seeds may be mislabeled
Gardening is often full of surprises, but it can be frustrating to discover that the plants that sprouted aren’t what you thought you bought. This could turn out to be be a different variety (such as the wrong type of tomato plant) or an entirely different plant altogether!
“I’ll say sometimes the colors get messed up, and sometimes you get the wrong flower,” someone warned. “I ended up with bachelor buttons after never having purchased them.”
Another person had a similar experience after purchasing American Seeds.
“I bought California Poppy seeds from Dollar Tree and they turned into basil,” the commenter wrote. “Same thing happened with another flower—totally different than what was labeled. Best of luck!”
It’s worth noting that mislabeling has been known to happen with other seed brands too, with some people getting stuck with pepper varieties they did not necessarily want. While it’s not ideal, it’s also not unique to Dollar Tree.
You receive fewer seeds
The great deal at Dollar Tree means you get more bang for your buck with four packets for the price of one. The downside: Each packet does contain less than the well-known brands.
“I mean, you don’t get very many seeds,” one gardener admitted. “But I’ve never done the math to see if they are cost effective. You don’t want to buy these if you want to cover a large area in flowers, but if you just want a few plants then you’re all good.”
On the other hand, others feel the smaller amount of seeds isn’t actually a con, since you’re able to buy so many packets at an affordable price.
“The low cost is because you get very few seeds compared to the ‘normal’ packages,” someone replied. “I prefer them because you can get a larger variety of plants for the same money and who really needs 100+ tomato or pepper seeds unless your garden is huge?”
The bottom line: Are Dollar Tree seeds worth buying?
After hearing from all these experienced gardeners, you might still be wondering: Should I actually buy these American Seed packets? Most gardeners agree you have nothing to lose by spending the $1.25!
“I absolutely have seeds that I continue to pay more for (specialty seeds/hard to find varieties), but for common items or just to try something new very cheaply, dollar store seeds are great!” a shopper advised.
Whether you’re working on developing a green thumb or simply want to cut down on gardening expenses, Dollar Tree seeds can be a great option to enjoy blooming beauty this spring!
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