A packet of seeds can look like a tiny promise in an envelope, especially when the listing shows a rose with rainbow petals, a sunflower shaped like a teddy bear, or a flower that appears to glow from the inside. The problem starts when that gorgeous picture has more to do with artificial intelligence than botany, because scammers now use convincing images to sell seeds for plants that do not exist. Recent reports have documented questionable seed listings across major online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
That creates a particularly sneaky problem for gardeners because seeds require patience before they reveal the truth. A questionable gadget might fail on day one, but a mystery packet can sit in soil for weeks before the disappointment finally sprouts. A few simple checks can help separate an exciting new plant from an expensive packet of botanical nonsense.
