Can I Buy Fresh Flowers with EBT? Your Guide to SNAP-Eligible Plants

December 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the USDA, EBT (also known as SNAP benefits) can only be used to purchase food for the household. This strict regulation means that you cannot buy fresh flowers with EBT, as they are considered non-food, ornamental items.

Quick Summary

SNAP benefits are restricted to food items intended for human consumption, meaning fresh flowers cannot be purchased with EBT. While decorative plants are ineligible, food-producing plants and seeds are permitted to support home gardening efforts.

Key Points

Fresh Flowers are Ineligible: You cannot use EBT to purchase fresh, decorative flowers because they are classified as non-food items under USDA SNAP guidelines.
Edible Plants are Eligible: You can use EBT to buy seeds and plants that produce food for the household, including vegetable, fruit, and herb plants.
SNAP Prioritizes Nutrition: The SNAP program is designed to cover food and items that support a healthy diet, such as seeds for growing your own food, not decorative goods.
Where to Buy Edible Plants: Look for eligible seeds and plants at authorized retailers like major supermarkets and some farmers' markets that accept EBT.
Separate Your Purchases: To avoid checkout issues, be prepared to differentiate eligible plant purchases from other items, as many retailers may not be fully informed.
Ornamental vs. Edible: The key distinction is the purpose of the plant; if it's purely for decoration and not meant to be eaten, it's not eligible for EBT purchase.

EBT Eligibility: Understanding the Rules

When it comes to using your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, the main rule to remember is that benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are for food items only. The program is designed to help low-income families and individuals purchase the food they need for a healthy diet, not for non-food household items, including decorative plants like fresh flowers.

Why Fresh Flowers Are Not Eligible

The reason fresh flowers are not an approved purchase is that they serve a decorative, rather than nutritional, purpose. SNAP's regulations explicitly exclude non-food items, such as household supplies, alcohol, tobacco, and live ornamental plants. This is a fundamental guideline that applies across all states. While it may be disappointing not to use your benefits for a bouquet, the program is structured to prioritize nutritional and sustenance-based purchases to maximize food security.

What You Can Buy: The Edible Plant Exception

While ornamental flowers are off-limits, SNAP does make an important exception for seeds and plants that produce food for the household. This offers a powerful way for recipients to extend their food budget and improve their diet by growing their own produce. Eligible items include seeds for vegetables, fruits, and herbs, as well as live plants that produce edible food, such as fruit trees and berry bushes. For example, a tomato plant is eligible, while a non-edible ornamental flower is not.

Navigating Your EBT Purchase for Edible Plants

If you are interested in starting a home garden with your EBT benefits, it's essential to understand where to shop and what to look for. Many large grocery stores, some farmers' markets, and even major retailers like Walmart often carry eligible plants and seeds.

Steps for Buying Edible Plants with EBT:

Shop at Approved Retailers: Stick to stores that are authorized to accept SNAP/EBT payments. This includes most major supermarkets and many farmers' markets. Some garden centers may not be set up to process EBT cards.
Look for Food-Producing Items: Specifically search for vegetable seeds, herb plants, and fruit-bearing bushes or trees. The product packaging should clearly indicate that it produces food.
Separate Ineligible Items: To avoid issues at the checkout, it's a good practice to separate your eligible plant purchases from any non-eligible items, such as gardening tools, soil, or fertilizers, which are not covered by EBT.
Be Prepared to Explain: Sometimes, a new cashier may not be familiar with the rule allowing edible plant purchases. If there is a problem, politely explain that seeds and food-producing plants are eligible under USDA guidelines and ask them to confirm with a manager.

Comparison Table: EBT-Eligible vs. Ineligible Plants


Plant Category	EBT Eligibility	Rationale	Examples
Fresh Cut Flowers	No	Non-food, decorative item.	Roses, tulips, lilies, carnations.
Seeds (Edible)	Yes	Produces food for the household.	Cucumber, squash, pepper, or tomato seeds.
Plants (Edible)	Yes	Produces food for the household.	Herb plants (basil, cilantro), fruit bushes (strawberries), vegetable starts (lettuce).
Ornamental Plants	No	Non-food, decorative item.	Houseplants, landscaping shrubs, decorative flowers.
Gardening Supplies	No	Not considered food items.	Soil, fertilizer, peat moss, gardening tools.

The Broader Context of SNAP Eligibility

Beyond plants, the fundamental principle remains consistent: if you can eat it, it's generally eligible. This includes fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, breads, and cereals. Some surprising items are also included, such as cakes for special occasions, as long as non-edible decorations don't exceed 50% of the cost, and edible pumpkins. Conversely, hot, ready-to-eat foods, alcoholic beverages, and household supplies like cleaning products are always excluded.

Conclusion

In summary, while you cannot buy fresh flowers with EBT due to their non-food classification, the SNAP program provides an opportunity to purchase a powerful alternative: seeds and plants that produce food. By focusing on edible plants, you can still bring greenery into your home, grow your own food, and maximize your EBT benefits. This guide should help clarify the distinction, ensuring your EBT card is used correctly and effectively to meet your household's nutritional needs.

Additional Resources

For the most up-to-date and authoritative information, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, seeds are eligible for purchase with an EBT card as long as they are for plants that produce food for the household to eat, such as vegetable or herb seeds.

Decorative fresh flowers are not eligible for purchase with an EBT card because they are not considered a food item under the rules of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

You can buy seeds and live plants that produce food for a home garden using your EBT benefits, but you cannot use them for non-food items like gardening tools, fertilizer, or soil.

While most stores that accept EBT are authorized to sell food-producing plants, not all of them do. Availability can vary, and some cashiers may be unfamiliar with the rule, so patience and clarification may be necessary.

If a cashier denies your EBT purchase for eligible seeds or food-producing plants, ask to speak with a manager. The USDA's Eligible Foods list confirms that seeds and plants which produce food are covered.

Yes, many farmers' markets now accept SNAP/EBT and are an excellent place to purchase local food-producing plants and seeds. Some markets even offer incentive programs to double your benefits for fresh produce.

Yes, live plants like fruit trees and berry bushes that will produce food for the household are eligible for purchase with EBT benefits.