Explore Plants

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
1 rating

Tuesday - August 02, 2011

From: Peru, NY
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Laws, Container Gardens
Title: Moving houseplants from New York to Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

We are relocating to Florida from New York and would like to bring our houseplants with us. Are there any laws forbidding indoor plant transport into Florida???

ANSWER:

There are no laws forbidding transport of houseplants into Florida (unless they happen to be citrus plants), but they do require houseplants to have a certification of inspection before entering Florida.   You should contact the New York Department of Agriculture & Markets Division of Plant Industry to see if they have or can tell you where to find an inspection and certification service for your houseplants.  If you aren't able to find an inspector, you will have to provide your address in Florida for a followup inspection once you are there should it be needed.  You can see a Summary of Florida Plant Protection Regulations on the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry page.  Also, there is an expanded version.  You can also visit the National Plant Board Laws and Regulation page to find the regulations for each state.  It might be wise to check the regulations for the states you will traveling through on your way to Florida.  Rossiter Relocation Service has a useful site with recommendations and requirements for moving plants from state to state and there is another set of recommendations from Holman Moving.

 

 

More Plant Laws Questions

Patenting Flower Mixes
July 12, 2012 - Can a new, more beautiful combination/mix of certain wild flowers or the new use of some particular wild flowers for a particular style of gardening, e.g. for deer resistance or for alternative lawn o...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants on plant patents
January 28, 2005 - How would I go about patenting a plant?
view the full question and answer

Regulations for transporting plants to Texas from Florida
July 29, 2008 - We are relocating to TX from FL, I have a collection of potted palm trees and quite a few potted tropical plants (none are invasive)that I would like to bring with us, we will be traveling by car and ...
view the full question and answer

Weed Laws
March 20, 2004 - Help! My neighborhood wants to mow down my native landscape! Can you suggest a resource regarding city regulations and native plant landscaping?
view the full question and answer

Optimum mowing times for wildflower garden
November 09, 2004 - I live in Washington County and have 4 acres that contain both an abundance of spring wildflowers and native grasses (silver and little bluestem, Texas grama). The homeowners restrictions require that...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.