The world of online plant shopping is wonderful in allowing gardeners to find plants that are not readily available in local markets. There are numerous reputable sources of plant material available online; however, there are also some unreliable sellers that may utilize enhanced or false advertising to sell a plant.
Our office has seen two recent cases where an enthusiastic gardener paid for a plant that was not the quality or plant they wanted.
The first case relates to the use of AI to create fantastical plant colors. These can be plants in colors or color combinations that we don’t often see in the plant world. In our client’s case, they found hosta seeds for sale that had vibrant deep blue foliage. Who wouldn’t be interested in one of these rare plants for a shady landscape? If we search online for blue hostas, we will find many sites that are selling seeds associated with enhanced photos. If you live in an appropriate climate and would like one of the blue hosta selections, expect leaves that will be green with a slight bluish tinge, not electric blue.
Our client did receive the blue hosta seeds they purchased and started them with a potting mix and careful care. Only a few seeds germinated but those that did, turned out to be a purslane. This is a nice annual plant with bright colors, but definitely not that plant that was purchased.
The second case was a gentleman that bought cherry trees from a social media market. Two bare root trees arrived in a mailer bag with no root protection or packing. The seedling trees were completely dried out. These trees also came from a northern state that has a very different climate than the coastal south. Even if the cherry trees lived through mailing, they likely wouldn’t have done well because they weren’t suited to our local climate.
Do your research before submitting payment. Read reviews and talk to other gardening friends about their go to online retailers. You may also contact your Extension office to see if a new or rare plant really exists. Lastly, check if the plant is considered invasive in your growing zone. Visit the UF IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants at https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/ to check on the invasive status of plant you will be purchasing for the Florida landscape.
Banner photo was generated with the assistance of AI. “Create a daisy like flower with red, white, and blue petals in landscape view,” created by Canva AI, June 2, 2026.
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