- Unsolicited seed packages from China are arriving in Texas mailboxes.
- Officials have collected more than 1,100 seed packs from more than 100 locations.
- Authorities warn this could be a serious threat to agriculture and ecosystems.
- The mailings may be a brushing scam or a deliberate biosecurity risk.
- Residents are told not to plant the seeds and to contact officials immediately.
For nearly a year, an unsettling delivery has been landing in Texas mailboxes: small, unsolicited packages containing unidentified seeds, often postmarked from China. State authorities have now issued a renewed and urgent warning, revealing they have collected a staggering 1,101 of these mysterious seed packs from 109 locations since February 2025. Officials fear this is more than a mere nuisance and could be a deliberate threat to the state’s agricultural heartland and natural environment.
The Texas Department of Agriculture first became aware of the issue last February when a resident in Clute reported receiving an unsolicited package from China containing “unidentified seeds and a liquid container.” Since that initial report, the stream of packages has continued, with the most recent collection occurring on December 29. Similar reports have emerged in Ohio, New Mexico, and Alabama, indicating a coordinated nationwide mailing.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is leading the charge to raise public awareness. “At a glance, this might seem like a small problem, but this is serious business,” Miller said in a January 5 statement. “The possible introduction of an invasive species to the state via these seeds poses real risks to Texas families and the agriculture industry.”
A threat to biosecurity
The core concern is biosecurity. Introducing non-native plant species can have catastrophic consequences. An invasive plant could outcompete native crops and vegetation, devastate local ecosystems, harbor new plant diseases, or harm livestock. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, which identified some received seeds as tomato and onion varieties, still cautioned that such practices “could still be illegal or violate regulations” and that the seeds “may be invasive to Alabama plants or be harmful to livestock.”
This is not the first time American households have been targeted. A nearly identical wave of unsolicited seed packages swept the country in 2020, prompting warnings from officials in all 50 states. At that time, many packages were processed by China Post, and recipients across the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Taiwan reported similar deliveries.
Brushing scams or something worse?
A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture determined the 2020 seeds were likely part of a global “brushing scam.” In this scheme, sellers send unsolicited, low-value items to random addresses to create a fake “verified purchase” profile, which they then use to post fraudulent positive reviews and boost their online sales.
While the current deliveries may be a continuation of this scam, officials are not dismissing more dangerous possibilities. The scale and persistence of the mailings raise alarms. “Whether it’s part of an ongoing scam or something more sinister, we are determined to protect Texans,” Commissioner Miller stated. “Unsolicited seeds coming into our country are a risk to American agriculture, our environment, and public safety.”
The TDA is working with federal partners to collect, test, and safely dispose of the seeds. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service identified seeds from one batch as sacred lotus, an aquatic plant considered invasive outside its native Asia, and is destroying them via steam sterilization.
State authorities have issued clear instructions to residents: do not open the package, do not plant the seeds, and do not throw them in the trash. Instead, they must keep the package sealed and contact the Texas Department of Agriculture immediately at 1-800-TELL-TDA for guidance on safe collection.
This ongoing episode serves as a reminder of how vulnerable modern agricultural systems are. As global commerce and complex supply chains continue to thrive, a simple packet of seeds, disguised as a marketing ploy, could potentially be wielded as a tool of ecological or economic disruption. For a state like Texas, where agriculture is a cornerstone of culture and economy, officials are making it clear that residents should treat every unknown seed as a potential threat, because the cost of underestimation could be dire.
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