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Is it ethical to buy Stephania erecta seeds when the mother plants might be poached?
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Is it ethical to buy Stephania erecta seeds when the mother plants might be poached?


I learned that Stephania bulbs, especially when big, are most likely poached, so I avoided these when researching a source.

I came across a seller on Ebay, who sells seeds and also shows his mother plants, who are quite big.

There is a possibility they were poached, but of course I don't know that for certain and don't want to blame anyone.

If the mother plants were to be poached, but flowered and seeded under the seller's care, is it then ethical for me to buy the seeds? Or does this indirectly support poaching?

Tia 🙏

(pic is NOT the seller in question)

by NeonPearl2025

7 Comments

  1. Agave_Addict

    My thinking is you are better to grow your own from seed if possible, then it’s less from the wild.
    Are they endangered in the wild?

  3. Zestylemons44

    All plants are poached initially till we establish their seed to grow in cultivation. Poaching is bad, but if you’re buying seed, you’re step 2.

  4. Naive_Chemistry6090

    i think the question is more so about giving money to the person your buying from. does that person sell many poached plants or do they have a poached plant and are selling the seeds.

  5. noerml

    Well, strictly speaking, all plants in cultivation need to be “poached” at one point or another.
    So, I’d say you are fine. It’s good that you did your research here. that’s what counts, imo!

    Now, if said seller has a wide range of obviously poached plants in their inventory for sale, I would think twice whether I really wanted to support them or rather give my money to a business that deserves.

  6. bearinminds

    Usually, when you buy seed, its not a direct benefit to the poachers. If enough seeds are produced, and sent all over the world, and non poaching cultivators grow them out, propagate them, and sell the plants and the seeds grown in cultivation, the incentive for the poachers drops .as the market floods with inexpensive plants and seeds, the price drops and its no longer economical for poaching. Usually.

    Rewilding initiatives are made possible in part by cultivators producing large amounts of the rare plant to reintroduce back into the wild.

    So if you want to make a difference, you can buy seeds, grow them out, make lots of babies that will make lots of seed, then send them out into the world.

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