Updated: Pesticide Free Nurseries and Seed Suppliers
thegardendiaries
If you are buying seed packets at a store, look at the packet information to see if the seeds are chemical free
Neonicotinoids—commonly called neonics—are the most widely used insecticides in the United States. Introduced in 1994, these systemic pesticides are now found in hundreds of products, including sprays, seed treatments, soil drenches, tree injections, and even veterinary products. Over the past three decades, scientific evidence linking neonic exposure to environmental harm—and potential human health risks—has continued to grow.
“Unlike older contact pesticides, neonicotinoids are absorbed into every part of the plant—flowers, pollen, nectar, fruit, seed, and foliage.”
Systemic pesticide
Because neonics are systemic, they don’t just kill target pests. They move through entire food webs, persisting in soil and water and exposing pollinators, birds, aquatic insects, and humans.
Bumblebee on flower
What Are Neonicotinoids—and Why Are They Different?
Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic insecticides chemically similar to nicotine. They act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of insects, causing paralysis and death. While initially promoted as “safer” than older pesticides, this claim was based largely on acute toxicity, not long-term ecological or developmental impacts.
Key differences:
Absorbed through roots and vascular tissue
Persist in soil for months to years
Present in pollen and nectar
Applied preventatively, often without active pest pressure
This systemic nature is what makes neonics uniquely dangerous to pollinators.
Human Health Concerns: What the Science Actually Says
Research summarized by the National Institutes of Health indicates that neonicotinoids can cross the placenta and blood-brain barrier in animal models. Epidemiological studies suggest associations (not proof of causation) between prenatal or early-life neonic exposure and:
neurodevelopmental delays
attention and behavioral changes
possible links to autism spectrum disorder
The American Bird Conservancy has also raised concerns about indirect human exposure through food and water contamination.
Bird populations have decreased dramatically over the past 20 years
Important clarification (fact-check): Current human studies show correlations, not definitive causation. However, the growing body of evidence has led many scientists to recommend a precautionary approach, particularly where children and pregnant individuals are concerned.
Songbirds Are Disappearing—And Pesticides Are a Factor
Research from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology found that North America has lost nearly three billion birds since 1970, a decline described as “staggering.”
While habitat loss remains the primary driver, pesticides—especially neonics—play a critical role by:
reducing insect prey needed to feed nestlings
contaminating seeds consumed by birds
weakening immune and reproductive systems
Even small, sublethal doses can impair navigation, feeding, and reproduction.
Pull quote: “You don’t have to kill a bird outright to cause population collapse—removing its food source is enough.”
Homeowners have access to lots of lethal pesticides
Homeowners: The Hidden Source of Neonic Overuse
Contrary to popular belief, homeowners are among the largest users of neonicotinoids. These chemicals are widely available in garden centers and are frequently applied prophylactically to lawns, shrubs, trees, and houseplants.
Because neonics persist in soil and water:
runoff enters streams and wetlands
treated ornamentals poison visiting pollinators
residues accumulate season after season
Once applied, there is no way to “turn them off.”
Checking on my hives
A Beekeeper’s Turning Point
Several years ago, after removing dead honeybees from a hive frame, I made a personal pledge: no neonic-treated plants or seeds would enter my property.
Neonics are now known to:
impair bees’ learning and memory
reduce foraging efficiency
weaken immune systems
interfere with grooming behavior needed to remove Varroa destructor mites
A study reported in ScienceDaily showed that neonic exposure reduces honeybees’ ability to self-groom, increasing susceptibility to mites and disease.
“It isn’t one stressor killing bees—it’s the pile-on. And pesticide exposure is one we can control.”
Beekeeping has been practiced for thousands of years and is under new threats
Neonic Policy: Europe vs. the United States
The European Union enacted a near-total ban on outdoor uses of neonicotinoids in 2018 (with very limited emergency exemptions).
In contrast, U.S. regulation has been slow and inconsistent:
A ban on neonic use in National Wildlife Refuges was enacted under President Barack Obama
That ban was repealed in 2018
Federal restrictions remain limited
State-Level Action: Maryland
Maryland banned consumer use of neonicotinoids in 2021, citing risks to pollinators, wildlife, and public health. Licensed applicators may still use them under restricted conditions.
Honeybees carry pollen from plant to plant and then to their hive where they use it for food
Why Gardeners Are Demanding Neonic-Free Plants
Gardeners increasingly report avoiding big retail nurseries because:
“pollinator-friendly” labels are unreliable
neonic treatments are rarely disclosed
systemic residues cannot be washed off
As a beekeeper, I want my honey—and my ecosystem—as clean as possible.
“If my bees visit your flowers, I don’t want them carrying pesticides back to the hive.”
Pesticide free garden sign
Nurseries and Seed Companies That Do Not Use Neonics
“The following nurseries and seed companies publicly state that they do not use neonicotinoids in their production practices.”
Plant Nurseries that Don’t use Neonics
Some are wholesale and some are retail; the wholesale ones sell to your local nurseries
Ask questions at your nursery if you are unsure of their pesticide use
Big-Box Stores: Progress With Limitations
Home Depot discontinued neonic use on plants in 2019
Lowe’s reports that:
live-goods suppliers have discontinued intentional neonic use unless legally required
most outdoor pesticides are neonic-free
alternatives for tree and shrub care are under review
Because many plants are grown by third-party suppliers, gardeners should still ask questions at the point of sale.
A Note on Proven Winners
Proven Winners does not apply neonics to finished plants sold to garden centers. However, many of their liner plants are sold to independent growers, who may apply neonics during finishing.
Best practice:
check the grower listed on the container
ask the nursery directly about pesticide use
Read your seed catalogs and packets to see their pesticide policy
What Gardeners Can Do—Right Now
ask nurseries and seed companies about neonic use
read seed packets carefully
support transparent, neonic-free growers
reduce or eliminate prophylactic pesticide use
contact state legislators to support pollinator-protective laws
Just as DDT was banned in 1972 after decades of damage, neonics deserve the same scrutiny. The difference is that these chemicals are hidden inside the plant, making them easier to overlook—but no less dangerous.
Learn More
For science-based research, policy updates, and action steps, visit the Xerces Society.
Claire Jones is a Maryland-based garden designer, horticulturist, and writer with more than 30 years of hands-on experience. She is the author of The Beekeeper’s Field Guide and the forthcoming The Garden Bible (HarperCollins, October 2026), and the creator of the gardening blog The Garden Diaries.
