Did you get an unsolicited seed package?

Don’t plant. It is a scam.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/scammers-sending-seed-packages-from-china-to-delaware-residents-dda-says/ar-BB17fIrx?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

That’s kind of creepy. I hope people don’t plant seeds that could have issues in terms of being invasive species.

You might want to get a mod to correct the typo in the title. You might get more looks and responses.

I thought maybe it was an unsolicited See’s Candy package!

Apparently this is happening in several states: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/27/unsolicited-packets-seeds-may-mailed-china-states-warn/5516852002/

Scary, and chances are some already threw those seeds into the trash. That could be a recipe for disaster. Also, seeds can harbor insects…

A relative wanted to take seeds of scotch broom home to plant “because they are so pretty.” Ugh!!! I had to lecture hard that invasive species are no good no matter how “pretty” they might look. Bitterly bush anyone… sigh.

Oh, no! I got seeds with no return address last month. I have ordered so many thing online (and several came with no return address) that I thought it was something I had ordered. I showed the seeds to my neighbor who is a master gardener but she couldn’t identify them. I planted one of the four packets in seed starter and little starter pots. The seeds looked like grass and when they sprouted, the plants look like grass. It didn’t seem worth the effort to transplant so they are still in my sunporch with a few other plants. After a month, it still looks like very fine grass, about 3-4 inches tall. I guess I will dispose of them and the rest of the seeds. I am happy to know that I didn’t waste money but really curious as to why they were sent.

What did I write?

If you take a photo of the seeds and the resulting plants and show them to someone who knows botany (e.g. someone at a plant nursery, agricultural seed supply, or college biology department), you may get an identification. Or maybe your neighbor may be able to identify the resulting plants.

In our local news story they said you are asked to seal in zip lock bag and contact the USDA APHIS smuggling interdiction and trade compliance. SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov.

Also says do not open, handle or plant. Of course that ship has sailed but glad you didn’t transplant in yard

See package; it’s been corrected.

Here’s more. Now in California.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/china-seed-mail-package-california-15439581.php

This is behind the pay wall. The headline tells the content.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/brushers-arrange-fake-online-sales-to-enhance-sellers-reputations-11596046717?mod=hp_lista_pos1

This is all so odd. In March/April, I ordered seeds from two separate vendors on Amazon, and it was obvious from the tracking that they were on the literal slow boat from China. They eventually showed up, after weeks and weeks and weeks, and the packaging was just like the examples in all the articles about the “suspicious” ones, including the description of “rose stud earrings”. They were obviously what I ordered (sunflower seeds), but I don’t think any of them came up. The day after planting, I found suspicious holes where a “critter” had probably retrieved them from.

I guess just a coincidence?

No idea. No wonder seeds didn’t come up if it took weeks and weeks in a slow boat probably improperly heated or cooled. Another reason to shun Amazon as far as I am concerned.

@O2BonCC I would not order seeds from China. You do not know what diseases they may have, nor what invasive species may be mixed in with them. Stick to US or Canadian suppliers.

What @MWolf says. Buy direct from US and Canadian vendors. Territorial Seed Co, Burpee, etc.

Seeds can harbor pests, especially the larger ones like sunflower seeds. “Earrings “ is put in the description to dupe US customs, because importation of seeds is controlled, and a package labeled “seeds” will be quarantined and likely destroyed.

Can China be waging a “biological war”? Spread bad seeds around? While at it, also mix in some spotted lantern fly eggs.

Well, in my defense, this was back in March/April when nobody was going much of anywhere, and I just wanted to see some freaking easy to grow flowers in my yard. And at the time, it wasn’t clear where they were coming from. But no worries, they didn’t grow anyway :slight_smile:

hearing about it in CO…
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/mysterious-seed-packets-sent-from-china-showing-up-at-homes-in-colorado#:~:text=DENVER%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Colorado%20Department%20of,plants%20grow%20from%20the%20seeds.

I’ve seen two stories with pics of this on FB where the seeds look totally different - one had small dark seeds and the other had larger light colored seeds. Same packaging though.

We’ll know once USDA finishes looking through the seeds. I would guess not, since it is an extremely inefficient way to do so. On the other hand, I really cannot even imagine what the point is. I mean, people who plant garden don’t plant random seeds in the backyard or fields.

I’m wondering whether this is an attack on the seed distributer - somebody spams them with a huge number of orders, and then disappears without actually paying.