SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – Texas agriculture officials are warning residents about unsolicited seed packages arriving from China after collecting more than 1,100 packets since February.
A Clute resident received one such package in February filled with unidentified seeds in an unknown liquid that they had not ordered.
“The possible introduction of an invasive species to the state via these seeds poses real risks to Texas families and the agriculture industry,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
Chad Cummings, Texas A&M AgriLife Grayson County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said mystery seeds have appeared in Texas before.
“It definitely seems to be a cycle of this occurring. I think the last time that it was majorly a problem was about five years ago,” Cummings said.
The risks remain significant, according to Cummings. Native plants adapted to Texas cannot compete with invasive species.
“They choke them out. They take all the nutrients and all the light and all the water, making it really tough for the natives to survive and they end up displacing them and so we see this time and time again,” Cummings said.
The damage extends beyond plant life, affecting entire ecosystems.
“That scales up to the insects, to the birds, to the mammals. It goes all the way through the ecosystem,” Cummings said.
Cummings pointed to nandina, or heavenly bamboo, as an example of an invasive species that has eliminated plant diversity in some Texas areas.
Officials advise residents who receive unsolicited seed packages to avoid opening or planting them.
“Make sure that you do not open it, do not plant it. These seeds could potentially be the next invasive species,” Cummings said.
Rather than discarding the packages, residents should contact local law enforcement agencies for collection or call 1-800-TELL-TDA.
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