Can I Bring My Plants?

Moving to Indiana

Can I bring my plants into Indiana?

Indiana's rule is about nursery stock shipped in by a consignor and consignee: a label on the box and a certificate from the state you're leaving. What that means for someone driving their own plants in personally is something we have not found written down — see the categories below for what is and isn't answered. Corms, tubers, flower seeds and cut flowers are left out of the rules entirely either way.

  • Checked Sep 2026
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What Indiana asks for

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

Plant by plant

Houseplants (no outdoor soil)

No data

What Indiana publishes about houseplants is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.

Source & details
Every package of nursery stock shipped into Indiana from another state must be labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the consignee, and a certificate from the other state showing that the contents have been examined and found free from pests and pathogens.
Nursery stock means botanically classified hardy perennial or biennial trees, shrubs, vines and plants, evergreens, fruit pits, and other plants or plant parts capable of propagation.

Regulatory Information, Indiana DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology · Entomology: Regulatory Information · checked 14 Sep 2026

Houseplants in every state

Potted plants in soil

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: What Indiana publishes about potted plants in soil is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.

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)

Every package of nursery stock shipped into Indiana from another state must be labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the consignee, and a certificate from the other state showing that the contents have been examined and found free from pests and pathogens.
Viruses of rose (312 IAC 18-3-9) Indiana Nursery Regulations Definition of Nursery Stock Nursery stock means botanically classified hardy perennial or biennial trees, shrubs, vines and plants, evergreens, fruit pits, and other plants or plant parts capable of propagation. The term does not include corms, tubers, field vegetables or flower seeds (IC 14-8-2-184 & IC 14-24-6-3). Nursery Licenses Nurseries selling or soliciting

Regulatory Information, Indiana DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology · Entomology: Regulatory Information · checked 14 Sep 2026

Potted plants in soil in every state

Citrus trees

Depends

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

From most states: What Indiana publishes about citrus trees is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.

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)

Every package of nursery stock shipped into Indiana from another state must be labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the consignee, and a certificate from the other state showing that the contents have been examined and found free from pests and pathogens.
Viruses of rose (312 IAC 18-3-9) Indiana Nursery Regulations Definition of Nursery Stock Nursery stock means botanically classified hardy perennial or biennial trees, shrubs, vines and plants, evergreens, fruit pits, and other plants or plant parts capable of propagation. The term does not include corms, tubers, field vegetables or flower seeds (IC 14-8-2-184 & IC 14-24-6-3). Nursery Licenses Nurseries selling or soliciting the sale of nursery

Regulatory Information, Indiana DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology · Entomology: Regulatory Information · checked 14 Sep 2026

Citrus trees in every state

Other fruit trees

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 13 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: What Indiana publishes about fruit trees other than citrus is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.

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)

Every package of nursery stock shipped into Indiana from another state must be labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the consignee, and a certificate from the other state showing that the contents have been examined and found free from pests and pathogens.
Viruses of rose (312 IAC 18-3-9) Indiana Nursery Regulations Definition of Nursery Stock Nursery stock means botanically classified hardy perennial or biennial trees, shrubs, vines and plants, evergreens, fruit pits, and other plants or plant parts capable of propagation. The term does not include corms, tubers, field vegetables or flower seeds (IC 14-8-2-184 & IC 14-24-6-3). Nursery Licenses Nurseries selling or soliciting

Regulatory Information, Indiana DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology · Entomology: Regulatory Information · checked 14 Sep 2026

Other fruit trees in every state

Nursery stock & shrubs

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 19 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: What Indiana publishes about nursery stock and shrubs is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.

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)

Every package of nursery stock shipped into Indiana from another state must be labeled on the outside with the name of the consignor, the name of the consignee, and a certificate from the other state showing that the contents have been examined and found free from pests and pathogens.

Regulatory Information, Indiana DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology · checked 14 Sep 2026

Nursery stock & shrubs in every state

Cut flowers & bouquets

Fine

Bring the bouquet. Indiana's rule only covers plants that could still be grown on, and a cut flower has no roots left to grow from.

Source & details
Nursery stock means botanically classified hardy perennial or biennial trees, shrubs, vines and plants, evergreens, fruit pits, and other plants or plant parts capable of propagation.

Entomology: Regulatory Information · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out

Cut flowers & bouquets in every state

Seeds & bulbs

Fine

Indiana leaves corms, tubers and flower seeds out of its plant rules by name, which covers most of what you'd be packing here.

Source & details
The term does not include corms, tubers, field vegetables or flower seeds (IC 14-8-2-184 & IC 14-24-6-3).

Entomology: Regulatory Information · checked 14 Sep 2026

Seeds & bulbs in every state

Firewood

Conditional

On Indiana public land, firewood is only allowed if it's kiln-dried with no bark, Indiana-grown with the bark off, stamped by the USDA or the state, or bought at the campground.

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)

visitors to public lands in Indiana are permitted to bring firewood if: It is kiln-dried scrap wood with no bark It is Indiana-grown firewood and has all bark removed It is labeled with a USDA or state compliance stamp

IN 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. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.

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

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)

Hay & straw in every state

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 Indiana.

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)

Soil & compost in every state

Still stuck? The people who answer this in Indiana are Indiana DNR, Entomology and Plant Pathology.