Claims of a newly discovered flower, the “cat’s eye dazzle plant,” have been captivating social media users with images of blooms resembling kitten faces. These enchanting photos have sparked widespread interest, with many eager to purchase seeds and cultivate these unique plants themselves. However, the allure of the cat’s eye dazzle plant is nothing more than an illusion, a fabrication born from the depths of artificial intelligence.
Originating from a Facebook post in the group “National Geographic Wild Planet” – a group with no actual affiliation to National Geographic – the viral images quickly spread across platforms, garnering tens of thousands of likes and shares. The post, showcasing flowers uncannily similar to kittens’ faces, ignited a buying frenzy, particularly among older users expressing a keen desire to grow these fantastical blooms. Screenshots even surfaced of websites purportedly selling “cat’s eye dazzle” seeds, further fueling the misconception of their reality.
Despite the captivating nature of these images, the cat’s eye dazzle plant is not a real botanical species. It is a product of artificial intelligence, debunked by AI detection tools and the absence of any prior record before 2024. The claim that it is a Cryptanthus bivittatus, a type of bromeliad, is also false. A reverse image search and date-restricted Google searches reveal no legitimate botanical information or news coverage of such a flower before the surge of these viral posts. The absence of any scientific or horticultural recognition further solidifies its artificial origin.
The “cat’s eye dazzle plant” phenomenon is not just a harmless internet curiosity; it’s a gateway to a seed scam originating from China. Websites like imseeds.com, gardenerstar.com, foundseed.com, and dailyrosy.com, all linked to domain registrations in China through Alibaba Cloud Computing, are actively selling seeds for this nonexistent plant. These sites capitalize on the viral images, preying on the desire for unique and novel plants.
TikTok creators, like Partly Sunny Projects, have raised awareness about this deception, cautioning users against falling for the “Pokemon anime kitty cat flowers” seed scam. Despite these warnings, the extent of the scam remains unclear, though eBay listings and social media engagement suggest a significant number of people have been duped. A Facebook video promoting seeds from dailyrosy.com alone amassed over 3.3 million views and 10,000 comments, showcasing the wide reach of these deceptive marketing tactics.
This “cat’s eye dazzle plant” scam is part of a larger trend of fake flower seed scams proliferating online. As highlighted in a Reddit thread on r/whatsthisplant, AI-generated images are used to sell seeds for imaginary plants, often alongside generic wildflower seeds. These scams exploit the desire for novelty and the visual appeal of AI-generated flora, tricking unsuspecting buyers. Common examples include seeds for blue roses, another botanical impossibility in nature, often promoted on platforms like Amazon and Etsy alongside the “cat’s eye dazzle plant.”
The best defense against such scams is vigilance and informed purchasing habits. Experts advise buying seeds only from reputable companies or trusted individuals found through online gardening communities and forums. Exercising caution on marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon, known for hosting seed scams, is crucial to avoid falling victim to these deceptive practices. The allure of the “cat’s eye dazzle plant” serves as a potent reminder to critically evaluate online claims, especially those that seem too good to be true, and to rely on verified sources for gardening and botanical information.
Sources:
- “AI Detector to Check for AI in Images & Audio.” AI or Not, https://www.aiornot.com/.
- “AI Image Detector.” Is It AI?, https://isitai.com/ai-image-detector/.
- “Cryptanthus Bivittatus.” North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cryptanthus-bivittatus/.
- Daiyahoo. “What Is This Plant? Is It Even Real?” r/whatisthisplant via Reddit.com, 3 Feb. 2024, https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisplant/comments/1ai0k4i/what_is_this_plant_is_it_even_real/.
- “How To Get Real Blue Roses?” Southside Blooms, https://www.southsideblooms.com/how-to-get-real-blue-roses/.
- “ICANN Registration Data Lookup Tool.” ICANN.org, https://lookup.icann.org/en.
- “Rose | Description, Species, Images, & Facts.” Britannica, 7 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/plant/rose-plant.
