What types of plants are allowed through US customs?
I would like to bring a small potted plant from Taiwan to the US as a gift for someone. Will US customs allow me to do this at all? I hear that there are some species of plants that are definitely prohibited. If plants are allowed, what are some good ones to choose or avoid to avoid problems with customs?
Best Answer
The best and simplest one would be not to travel with one unless it has a sentimental value since most potted plants you can get in the US and those you can't are probably restricted and you will be forbidden from importing it.
Having said that.
There is an entire section in APHIS from US Department of Agriculture dedicated to what can and cannot be imported for planting and the list of Prohibited Items. On top of this you should also be concerned with possible import of insects that may be dormant in the plant or in the soil such as Asian Long Horn Beetle, which has caused a lot of problems with tree populations in the US and specifically in New York.
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Can I bring plants to USA?
All travelers entering the United States are REQUIRED to DECLARE meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.What plants are not allowed in the US?
When the federal government defines a plant as noxious, it becomes illegal to import that plant or to carry it across state lines....15 Plants That Are Banned From Being Planted in Some Parts the...- Barberry. ...
- Creeping buttercup. ...
- Forget-me-not. ...
- Kudzu. ...
- Sycamore maple. ...
- Wild sugarcane. ...
- Yellow iris. ...
- Garlic mustard.
How many plants can I import to USA?
If you bring back 12 or fewer articles of admissible plants that have no special restrictions, you do not need a permit. Special restrictions may include requirements such as a permit, post-entry quarantine, treatment, or ESA or CITES documentation.Can I bring a flower into the US?
Fresh cut flowers and greenery must be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the first port of entry for inspection.What Chemists Do-US Customs and Border Protection-Part 1
More answers regarding what types of plants are allowed through US customs?
Answer 2
If you want to bring it in legally you'd need a permit. Most likely you'd need (in trying to obtain that permit) a phytosanitary certification, and they'd probably want you to bring it in bare root (no soil). They may also ask that the plant stay at one of the USDA facilities for a quarantine period.
It will be relatively difficult for you to do this.
Answer 3
A few years ago, I brought a couple of desert roses from Vietnam. I cleaned and trimmed the roots, as well as obtained permits for the specific plant I wanted to bring, which was desert roses. Later on, they said I am not allowed to bring plants older than one year.
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