Can I Bring My Plants?

Moving to Arkansas

Can I bring my plants into Arkansas?

Arkansas wants an inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, fixed to the outside of whatever the plants travel in. Hay, straw and soil from a handful of southern states need certifying too, because of fire ants.

  • Checked Sep 2026
Arkansas on a map of the United States Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming

What Arkansas asks for

3 of these change depending on where you're leaving. Pick a state to see which.

Plant by plant

Houseplants (no outdoor soil)

Conditional

  • Certificate

Houseplants count here. They need an inspection certificate or a dealer's certificate, attached to the outside of whatever they travel in.

You'd need: Inspection certificate or dealer's certificate, attached to the outside

Source & details
All nursery stock sold or transported within or into the State of Arkansas shall have attached to the outer container thereof either a certificate of inspection or a dealer's certificate.
shall include all field-grown florist stock, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, grafts, buds, fruit pits and other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and other plants and plant products for propagation, except field, vegetable and flower seeds

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026

Houseplants in every state

Potted plants in soil

Conditional

  • Certificate

Potted plants count here. They need an inspection certificate or a dealer's certificate, attached to the outside of whatever they travel in.

You'd need: Inspection certificate or dealer's certificate, attached to the outside

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)

Witchweed (7 CFR 301.80): Witchweed is regulated in a handful of Carolina counties, not the whole of either state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of the Carolinas, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart O: Witchweed (eCFR)

Golden nematode (7 CFR 301.85): Golden nematode is regulated in parts of a few New York counties, not the whole state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of New York, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of New York. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart R: Golden Nematode (eCFR)

All nursery stock sold or transported within or into the State of Arkansas shall have attached to the outer container thereof either a certificate of inspection or a dealer's certificate.
shall include all field-grown florist stock, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, grafts, buds, fruit pits and other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and other plants and plant products for propagation, except field, vegetable and flower seeds

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026

Potted plants in soil in every state

Citrus trees

Depends

  • Certificate

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 2 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: Citrus trees count here. The inspection certificate from the state you're leaving has to be attached to the outside of the container they travel in.

You'd need: Copy of the inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, attached to the outside

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Citrus greening and Asian citrus psyllid (7 CFR 301.76): Citrus plants may not be moved interstate out of a citrus greening quarantine area unless a specific provision allows it. APHIS asks people not to mail or carry home-grown citrus plants out at all. Leaving Georgia, Florida, or parts of Alabama, California, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart N: Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid (eCFR)

All nursery stock sold or transported within or into the State of Arkansas shall have attached to the outer container thereof either a certificate of inspection or a dealer's certificate.
shall include all field-grown florist stock, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, grafts, buds, fruit pits and other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and other plants and plant products for propagation, except field, vegetable and flower seeds
Attach a valid copy of the certificate of inspection of the state of origin to each package, box or bundle of nursery stock shipped into Arkansas.

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026

Citrus trees in every state

Other fruit trees

Conditional

  • Certificate

Fruit trees count here. The inspection certificate from the state you're leaving goes on each package, box or bundle, and on each separate order if there's more than one.

You'd need: Copy of the inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, attached to the outside

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Spongy moth (trees and shrubs with roots) (7 CFR 301.45): A tree or shrub with roots needs a federal certificate or permit to leave a spongy moth quarantine area. Anything greenhouse-grown all year is exempt, so this is about what has been living in your garden. Leaving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart E: Gypsy Moth (eCFR)

Arkansas treats 5 origins differently

Alabama: Conditional . Phony peach disease covers all of this state. Peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and almond trees need a nursery inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, naming the sender and fixed to the outside of the load.

Florida: Conditional . Phony peach disease covers all of this state. Peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and almond trees need a nursery inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, naming the sender and fixed to the outside of the load.

Georgia: Conditional . Phony peach disease covers all of this state. Peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and almond trees need a nursery inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, naming the sender and fixed to the outside of the load.

Louisiana: Conditional . Phony peach disease covers all of this state. Peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and almond trees need a nursery inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, naming the sender and fixed to the outside of the load.

Mississippi: Conditional . Phony peach disease covers all of this state. Peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and almond trees need a nursery inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, naming the sender and fixed to the outside of the load.

All nursery stock sold or transported within or into the State of Arkansas shall have attached to the outer container thereof either a certificate of inspection or a dealer's certificate.
shall include all field-grown florist stock, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, grafts, buds, fruit pits and other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and other plants and plant products for propagation, except field, vegetable and flower seeds
Attach a valid copy of the certificate of inspection of the state of origin to each package, box or bundle of nursery stock shipped into Arkansas.

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026

Other fruit trees in every state

Nursery stock & shrubs

Conditional

  • Certificate

A copy of the inspection certificate from the state you're leaving goes on each package, box or bundle of plants coming into Arkansas, and on each separate order if there's more than one.

You'd need: Copy of the inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, on each package

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)

Spongy moth (trees and shrubs with roots) (7 CFR 301.45): A tree or shrub with roots needs a federal certificate or permit to leave a spongy moth quarantine area. Anything greenhouse-grown all year is exempt, so this is about what has been living in your garden. Leaving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart E: Gypsy Moth (eCFR)

Witchweed (7 CFR 301.80): Witchweed is regulated in a handful of Carolina counties, not the whole of either state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of the Carolinas, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart O: Witchweed (eCFR)

Arkansas treats 5 origins differently

Arizona: Conditional . Arkansas has this state down as having brown garden snail. The inspection certificate needs a declaration signed by an official in the state you're leaving, saying the nursery was checked and found free of it.

California: Conditional . Arkansas has this state down as having brown garden snail. The inspection certificate needs a declaration signed by an official in the state you're leaving, saying the nursery was checked and found free of it.

Florida: Conditional . Arkansas has this state down as having brown garden snail. The inspection certificate needs a declaration signed by an official in the state you're leaving, saying the nursery was checked and found free of it.

Louisiana: Conditional . Arkansas has this state down as having brown garden snail. The inspection certificate needs a declaration signed by an official in the state you're leaving, saying the nursery was checked and found free of it.

South Carolina: Conditional . Arkansas has this state down as having brown garden snail. The inspection certificate needs a declaration signed by an official in the state you're leaving, saying the nursery was checked and found free of it.

Attach a valid copy of the certificate of inspection of the state of origin to each package, box or bundle of nursery stock shipped into Arkansas.
On multiple-order shipments, a certificate must be attached to each individual order as well as to the outer package.

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026

Nursery stock & shrubs in every state

Cut flowers & bouquets

Fine

Arkansas's plant rules cover things grown to be planted or grown on. A cut flower isn't going to be planted, so it sits outside them.

Source & details
shall include all field-grown florist stock, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, grafts, buds, fruit pits and other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and other plants and plant products for propagation, except field, vegetable and flower seeds

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out

Cut flowers & bouquets in every state

Seeds & bulbs

Conditional

  • Certificate

Seeds from fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs need an inspection certificate from the state you're leaving. Field, vegetable and flower seeds are left out, so they don't.

You'd need: Copy of the inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, attached to the outside

Source & details
All nursery stock sold or transported within or into the State of Arkansas shall have attached to the outer container thereof either a certificate of inspection or a dealer's certificate.
shall include all field-grown florist stock, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, grafts, buds, fruit pits and other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs, and other plants and plant products for propagation, except field, vegetable and flower seeds

003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · 003.11.06 Ark. Code R. 008: Regulations on Plant Diseases and Pests · checked 14 Sep 2026

Seeds & bulbs in every state

Firewood

Not allowed

Firewood from anywhere with thousand cankers disease can't come in. Arkansas is trying to keep the walnut twig beetle out.

Because of: State firewood rules.

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Gypsy moth (outdoor household articles) (7 CFR 301.45): Firewood counts as an outdoor household article. Moving it out of a gypsy moth quarantine area needs a certificate, or the self-inspection checklist from the "Don’t Move Gypsy Moth" program aid. Leaving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart E: Gypsy Moth (eCFR)

Arkansas has regulations in place to prevent the introduction of walnut twig beetle by prohibiting the entry of firewood from out of state areas known to have thousand cankers disease .

AR firewood rules, Don’t Move Firewood (The Nature Conservancy) · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out

Firewood in every state

Hay & straw

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 9 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: No data yet on bringing hay and straw into Arkansas.

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)

Arkansas treats 9 origins differently

Alabama: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Florida: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Georgia: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Louisiana: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Mississippi: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

North Carolina: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Oklahoma: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

South Carolina: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Texas: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so hay and straw need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Hay & straw in every state

Soil & compost

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 9 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: No data yet on bringing soil and compost into Arkansas.

Source & details

Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving

Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)

Witchweed (7 CFR 301.80): Witchweed is regulated in a handful of Carolina counties, not the whole of either state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of the Carolinas, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart O: Witchweed (eCFR)

Golden nematode (7 CFR 301.85): Golden nematode is regulated in parts of a few New York counties, not the whole state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of New York, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of New York. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart R: Golden Nematode (eCFR)

Arkansas treats 9 origins differently

Alabama: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Florida: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Georgia: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Louisiana: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Mississippi: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

North Carolina: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Oklahoma: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

South Carolina: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Texas: Conditional . Fire ants are the problem with this state, so soil and compost need certifying before they come in. The certification follows the USDA's fire ant manual.

Soil & compost in every state

Still stuck? The people who answer this in Arkansas are Arkansas State Plant Board.