Seed group, species or variety: where does a buyer start

A reseller opening a wholesale seed catalogue faces a practical question: should the selection start from a broad seed group, from a botanical species, or from a named variety? Each level of the catalogue answers a different question and leaves a different set of details to the quotation. The following overview maps the three levels of the catalogue from Bulk Seeds International so that a buyer can decide where to begin and what each level can and cannot settle before an enquiry is sent.

Why the starting level matters

The catalogue is organised by seed group, species and variety. Starting at the wrong level wastes time: a buyer who begins with pack sizes before choosing a variety, or who compares prices across different units, may build a basket that has to be revised later. The level you start from should match the question you are trying to answer, whether that is assortment breadth, botanical identity or a specific cultivar for a shelf plan.

The seed group level: planning the assortment

The seed group is the broadest level, for example Vegetables, Flowers, Herbs, or Microgreens and Sprouts. This level answers the question of which parts of a retail range the catalogue covers at all. It is the right starting point when a shop is translating a shelf or display plan into a shortlist of product areas. The seed group tells you what exists as a category, but it does not give variety-level detail or confirm that a specific item is currently available.

The species level: botanical identity and scope

Within a seed group, the species level names the botanical identity, such as Brassica oleracea or Eruca sativa, and shows how many varieties are listed under it. This level is useful when a buyer needs to check whether a particular plant is represented in the catalogue and how deep the offer goes. Species pages and lists also show listed prices and quantity tiers. A species heading does not by itself establish that a named lot is suitable for a particular use; questions of that kind require information for the exact reference.

The variety level: the named reference

The variety level is the most specific: a named cultivar with a reference number and a product page. This is where a buyer confirms the identity that will appear on the shelf and in the enquiry. The variety page is also where listed prices and any recorded unit, such as weight or seed count, appear. Because weight-based and seed-count prices are different bases of comparison, the recorded unit on the variety page should be carried through into the enquiry rather than converted informally.

What each level does not settle

No catalogue level confirms availability, final price, pack size or shipping charges. Those are confirmed in the quotation after the selection has been reviewed. Likewise, a catalogue listing does not confirm import eligibility for a destination; official conditions must be checked separately for each botanical name. The catalogue levels help a buyer build a precise selection, but they are a starting map, not a confirmation of supply.

Reading qualifiers carefully at each level

Some catalogue records use horticultural group names rather than a single accepted species name, and imported botanical labels can be broad. At the species and variety levels, qualifiers such as leaf type or cultivar name distinguish otherwise similar entries, and they should be preserved in the enquiry. Where a label is ambiguous, the practical step is to ask for clarification against the reference number rather than to assume the entries are interchangeable.

A practical sequence for a reseller

A workable order is: start with the seed group to match the assortment plan, move to the species to check botanical scope and listed pricing tiers, then choose the named variety and note its reference number and recorded unit. Only after that should quantities, destination and required documents be assembled for the enquiry. Following this sequence keeps the basket consistent and reduces the risk of comparing items on incompatible bases.

Where the enquiry takes over

Once the variety level is settled, the enquiry basket carries the selection, quantities and destination to the supplier for review. The enquiry is non-binding, no payment is taken through the website, and no account is required. The quotation then confirms available pack sizes, available quantity, final prices and shipping charges. Requests for unlisted varieties can be raised separately by naming the botanical or variety name, quantity and destination.

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