Beware the Garden Scam: Those Exotic Hosta Seeds Online? Experts Say They’re Too Good to Be True.
As the holiday season approaches, you might be tempted to surprise the gardening enthusiast in your life with something truly unique. Scrolling through online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, or even TikTok, you’ll stumble upon ads for hosta seeds promising plants in jaw-dropping colors—deep blacks, cosmic blues, vibrant reds, and purples. But here’s where it gets controversial: are these seeds the real deal, or are you being sold a botanical fairy tale? Let’s dig into the truth.
The ads are undeniably enticing. One TikTok video even claims, ‘Plant it by your front door in December, and your home will be the envy of the neighborhood.’ The visuals are stunning, but if these hostas are so extraordinary, why haven’t you seen them thriving in anyone’s garden? We turned to a true expert for answers.
Meet Bill Hegeman, co-president of the Genesee Valley Hosta Society, who, along with his wife, tends to over 500 varieties of hostas in their yard. Hegeman, a self-proclaimed ‘hostaholic,’ didn’t mince words when he saw these ads: ‘Definitely all fake.’ While hostas do come in various shades of green and occasional variegated patterns, nothing even remotely resembles the colors advertised online. And the seeds? Hegeman points out that two different ads for the same hosta show completely different seeds—a glaring red flag. ‘Variegated or multicolored hostas don’t grow true from seeds,’ he explains. So, what happens if you plant these seeds? ‘Heaven only knows,’ Hegeman quips. ‘Maybe you’ll end up with a weed garden.’
But here’s the part most people miss: these ads aren’t just misleading—they’re likely AI-generated. Christopher Schwartz, a research scientist at RIT working on the Deepfake Detection Project, analyzed the hosta videos and photos. His verdict? ‘Definitely AI-generated.’ Schwartz highlights unnatural elements like oddly shaped leaves, hands, and even the way water behaves in the videos. ‘There’s just a lot of unnaturalness in the physics of the video,’ he notes.
So, while the idea of a black or blue hosta might sound magical, it’s simply not grounded in reality. Save your money and stick to reputable nurseries for your gardening needs. And this is the part that could spark debate: Are these fake ads harmless fun, or are they exploiting unsuspecting buyers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
We’ve reached out to the sellers behind these ads, including the TikTok account and Amazon listings, but haven’t heard back yet. In the meantime, stay vigilant—these hosta seeds aren’t the only fake plants being peddled online. If in doubt, consult your local nursery. After all, in gardening, as in life, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
For more insights, check out related stories on gardening, hostas, and the Genesee Valley Hosta Society, or learn about the cutting-edge work being done at RIT to detect deepfakes.
