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Mystery seed packets from China are being delivered to Texas residents

By T.K. Randall
February 16, 2025 · Comment icon 7 comments
Mystery seed packets
Who sent these and why ? Image Credit: Texas Department of Agriculture / Fox 7 News
Packets of seeds sent from China have been turning up in the mailboxes of people who didn't order them.
According to reports, multiple residents across the state of Texas have recently received an unexpected delivery of seed packets sent from an unknown address in China.

The phenomenon echoes a very similar spate of unsolicited seed deliveries reported in 2020, though in that case the packages had been sent to local distributers rather than directly to mailboxes.

The Texas Department of Argiculture has since been analyzing the seed packets to see if they contain seeds for plants that are invasive or potentially dangerous to the local area.

Officials have so far recovered around 20 seed packets and have determined that at least some of them are water lilies - an aggressive plant that can quickly cover the surface of entire lakes.

The question is - who is sending these packets and for what purpose ?

"These are being dropped, shipped straight from China to the consumer," said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
"We think they have ordered from Temu. It's how they got their address. They all seem to have a link that they've ordered something from China, but they didn't order these seeds."

"They're coming in a completely different shipment."

The story doesn't end there, however.

"Some of these packages have an unidentified liquid in them, which is very bothersome," said Miller.

"Now, my theory and I hope I hope I'm wrong, is that they may just be testing our biosecurity, seeing what they can get by with, what they can get in."

Anyone who receives a packet of seeds is being advised not to throw them in the trash but to instead contact their local agriculture department.

"The problem just going into the landfill without destroying the seeds is they may actually sprout and get away from us," said Miller. "We don't need that."

Source: Fox 7 Austin | Comments (7)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by XenoFish 1 month ago
Wasn't there a similar incidence of this a few years ago? Not saying it's the same thing. 
Comment icon #2 Posted by Stiff 1 month ago
From the article: "The phenomenon echoes a very similar spate of unsolicited seed deliveries reported in 2020, though in that case the packages had been sent to local distributers rather than directly to mailboxes."
Comment icon #3 Posted by Ka-tet 1 month ago
This was happening in Scotland for a while. Think it was narrowed down to Amazon customers that had previously ordered something from china. Can't remember what the outcome of it was or what the seeds were.
Comment icon #4 Posted by and-then 1 month ago
Hopefully, anyone who receives unsolicited seeds from that area, knows the history of the kudzu "plague" in the southern US.  And, no, I'm not accusing China of any malintent, just a general warning about inviting non-native plants to run riot unintentionally.
Comment icon #5 Posted by HollyDolly 1 month ago
Only thing I buy from China comes from Walmart.Don't buy from Temu, etc.And it is probably what the gentleman says. they are sending these and are testing to see how stupid we are, and if we will be dumb enough to plant the seeds.
Comment icon #6 Posted by Nicolette 1 month ago
I recently ordered water lilies from china. Very happy with the results! Soon to order more seeds as they have so many interesting kinds for so cheap, if only ups could get them all to the right address...
Comment icon #7 Posted by Nicolette 1 month ago
I have the opposite experience. Don't ever buy online from Walmart as everybody who does gets their credit card stolen and used everywhere. Temu on the other hand sends great seeds for really cool plants for super cheap... Some are too hard to start but I've never gotten the wrong kind or anything. Am I supposed to be scared of my plants?


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