Seeds of doubt over mystery gifts from China
BRITONS have been warned against planting batches of mystery seeds arriving from China.
It is believed thousands of unsolicited packets of seeds were sent to people in Europe and the US, sparking official investigations and even fears of a biosecurity hazard.
Amateur gardeners who received the seeds were baffled as to what they are – even after one planted them and posted the pictures of the resulting plants online.
However, Martyn Cox, The Mail on Sunday’s gardening expert, believes they are datura seeds – a type of plant that is native to subtropical parts of the Americas.
Martyn explained: ‘ There are many types, some that are widely grown as ornamentals in Britain. They are staggeringly beautiful when i n flower but should be treated with caution as the blooms and seeds are poisonous.’
The UK’s Animal and Plant Agency is investigating. A spokesman said: ‘Biosecurity is of vital importance and we have robust checks in place to protect our plants and wildlife, including for online pl ant s al es. Anyone who has received such seeds should not plant them but report them to us.’
After one British gardener posted a photograph of the seeds on a Facebook gardening group, another member from Portugal wrote that she had received ‘exactly the same seeds, the same package, at the same time’.
Other photographs shared online show packages marked with Chinese script or ‘ China Post’ and marked as containing ‘rose stud’ earrings – probably to avoid biosecurity checks or customs fees.
They are addressed to named individuals, which suggests a data breach.
American investigators believe they are part of a ‘brushing scam’, in which online sellers mail near-worthless unsolicited items to generate a transaction that gives credence to fake reviews posted online.
Other theories in the US are that the seeds are invasive species such as Japanese knotweed, or a bid to introduce pathogens or disease.