Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to Connecticut
Can I bring my plants into Connecticut?
Connecticut only regulates hardy trees, shrubs and vines grown outdoors, so houseplants, cut flowers, seeds and bulbs come in freely. Anything woodier needs an inspection certificate stuck on the package itself, and firewood from a pest area is the strict one.
- Checked Sep 2026
What Connecticut asks for
- HouseplantsHouseplants (no outdoor soil)Fine
- Potted plants in soilPotted plants in soilConditional
- Citrus treesCitrus treesDepends
- Other fruit treesOther fruit treesConditional
- Nursery stock & shrubsNursery stock & shrubsConditional
- Cut flowers & bouquetsCut flowers & bouquetsFine
- Seeds & bulbsSeeds & bulbsFine
- FirewoodFirewoodConditional
- Hay & strawHay & strawDepends
- Soil & compostSoil & compostDepends
3 of these change depending on where you're leaving. Pick a state to see which.
Plant by plant
Houseplants (no outdoor soil)
Fine
Bring your houseplants. Connecticut's certificate rule only covers hardy trees, shrubs and vines grown outdoors, and a houseplant isn't one of those.
Source & details
Nursery stock is defined as hardy trees, shrubs, and vines grown out of doors.
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
Greenhouses are facilities where individuals either commercially or privately grow all their stock under glass or plastic year round. Plants grown in greenhouses for shipment out of the state are required to be inspected.
Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Potted plants in soil
Conditional
- Certificate
If it's a hardy tree, shrub or vine that grew outdoors, pot and all, every package needs a certificate on it saying it was checked and looked free of pests and disease.
You'd need: Certificate on each package, saying the contents were checked and looked clean
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)
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
Nursery stock is defined as hardy trees, shrubs, and vines grown out of doors.
Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
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 need a certificate on the package saying a state or federal inspector checked them and found no pests or disease.
You'd need: Certificate on each package, saying the contents were checked and looked clean
Because of: Citrus greening (HLB).
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)
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
n, CT 06511. *The Connecticut statutes' definition of nursery stock excludes houseplants. Nursery stock is defined as hardy trees, shrubs, and vines grown out of doors. There are different rules and definitions for nurseries, dealers, greenhouses and turf farms. (see below) The full Connecticut plant pest law also follows. NURSERIES Any place at which hardy trees, shrubs and vines are propagated or grown out of doors for commercial purposes shall be con
Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · Nursery Inspection and Certification · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Other fruit trees
Conditional
- Certificate
Fruit trees count here, so each package needs a certificate on it saying an inspector checked the contents and found no pests or disease.
You'd need: Certificate on each package
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)
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
Nursery stock is defined as hardy trees, shrubs, and vines grown out of doors.
Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · checked 14 Sep 2026
Nursery stock & shrubs
Conditional
- Certificate
Every package coming into Connecticut needs a certificate on it saying a state or federal inspector checked the contents and found no pests or disease.
You'd need: Certificate on each package, saying the contents were checked and looked clean
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)
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
Fine
Cut flowers and bouquets travel free. Connecticut's certificate rule only covers hardy trees, shrubs and vines grown outdoors.
Source & details
Hardy cultivated or wild woody plants, such as trees, evergreens, shrubs and vines propagated or grown out of doors for commercial purposes shall be considered nursery stock.
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
Connecticut: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations (National Plant Board) · Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Seeds & bulbs
Fine
Seed packets and bulbs are fine to bring. The certificate rule here only covers hardy trees, shrubs and vines grown outdoors.
Source & details
Nursery stock is defined as hardy trees, shrubs, and vines grown out of doors.
Connecticut regulations require that all nursery stock shipped into this state shall bear on each package a certificate stating that all the contents of such package have been inspected by your State and/or Federal official and that the contents appear free from all injurious insects and diseases.
Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · Nursery Inspection and Certification, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Firewood
Conditional
- Treatment
- Certificate
- Permit
Firewood from an area under quarantine for a tree pest needs to be labelled as certified heat-treated and carry whatever permit goes with it before it can enter Connecticut.
You'd need: Label showing it was certified heat-treated · Whatever permit the wood needs to leave that area
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)
Connecticut state regulations prohibit the movement of firewood into or within the state if it comes from an area under federal or state quarantine for a regulated forest pest ; this is unless the firewood is properly labeled to indicate it underwent certified, heat-treatment sterilization, is accompanied with the required permit (s), and/or is otherwise in compliance with the relevant quarantine.
CT 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
Hay & straw
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: No data yet on bringing hay and straw into Connecticut.
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)
Soil & compost
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: No data yet on bringing soil and compost into Connecticut.
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)
Still stuck? The people who answer this in Connecticut are Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.