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Buying Natives on eBay

19 years ago

Hi Everyone-

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience related to buying native plants on eBay? I was looking around the various sellers' store fronts today and found some great deals on native plants- almost too good to be true in some cases. I want to make sure the plants I'm buying aren't poached from the wild, or at least that they are harvested in a responsible manner. At least one seller says that he/she harvests from areas that are planned for development. In short- is it responsible to buy natives from eBay?

I'm not looking for particular seller's names, though if you want to send me a private message with recommendations it would be fine.

-Josh-

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Comments (7)

spanaval
19 years ago
I have been seriously tempted by the great plant deals on eBay, but haven't bought yet. In a majority of the cases, I received silence when I asked whether these plants were wild collected. The couple of people who responded to say that these were 'saved' plants couldn't provide further information that would allow me to verify their claims.

I have opted instead to buy from well reputed sources.
dragonfly_dance
19 years ago
I have both bought and sold native plants on ebay. My experience has been pretty good. One I bought from sells volunters from her yard, but others including the "construction site" I have been leary of.That "construction site" has been going on a few years now. One states that they are a licensed nursery but says the plants are "dug from the mountains of Tenn", which doesnt give me a good feeling, Additonally they are dirt cheap, no pun intended, another red flag. Further they have exotics listed as native like orange daylily and vinca vine claiming they are native ..anyone licensed should know better. Also beware plants for sale listed as "rare."

My advice, and I am not here to advertise, but in my own listings I clearly state that I grow my own on the premises and I tell people to be aware and ask questions about where they get their plants from. If you are not comfortable with the response or dont receive one, move on.
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jclark42
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you both for your responses. You've confirmed what I suspected- if it seems too good to be true it probably is. I'd like to imagine that all of these plants are harvested responsibly, but I know better.

Thanks,
-Josh-
joepyeweed
19 years ago
I considered buying plants on ebay, so I inquired to the source. When I got no reply, I decided not to buy.
drpeterdixon_ucfm_every1_net
19 years ago
Hi I just read a recent blog on this subject Its Named How to Buy Plants on eBay. Here is the link for more information
http://www.nipahutgardens.com/blog.asp?view=plink&id=134 Not everyone on eBay can be trusted for plants, with this guide you can at least determine who you can safely buy from. P.S. I have put the link in the useful Link below

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Buy Plants on Ebay
clampam2897
18 years ago
I buy from nurseries that are inspected by the state of TN and their diggers pull permits in order to dig on lumber company lands prior to timbering. Thus saving our prescous plants from destruction. It is extremely good conservation to save plants prior to deforestation. With development they have almost no chance of survival. We urge persons interested in this type of conservation to support giving habitat to our bare root plants and stop buying annuals that need to be replaced every year.
midwesternerr
18 years ago
There are native plant sales in every major city in the states now. I would rather drive to one of these and deal with credible sources than trust some unknown entity on the Internet, especially on eBay.

Purchasing wild dug natives may be doing more good than harm, I don't want to give anyone an incentive to run out and start snipping, digging, and picking in Parks and the few remants of private land that still provide some habitat.

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