Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to Kansas
Can I bring my plants into Kansas?
Kansas's tag-and-certificate rule is aimed at plant dealers, so your own houseplants and potted plants aren't caught by it. Hay and straw move in freely; firewood from a thousand cankers state doesn't.
- Checked Sep 2026
What Kansas asks for
- HouseplantsHouseplants (no outdoor soil)Fine
- Potted plants in soilPotted plants in soilDepends
- Citrus treesCitrus treesDepends
- Other fruit treesOther fruit treesDepends
- Nursery stock & shrubsNursery stock & shrubsDepends
- Cut flowers & bouquetsCut flowers & bouquetsFine
- Seeds & bulbsSeeds & bulbsNo data
- FirewoodFirewoodNot allowed
- Hay & strawHay & strawDepends
- Soil & compostSoil & compostConditional
5 of these change depending on where you're leaving. Pick a state to see which.
Plant by plant
Houseplants (no outdoor soil)
Fine
Kansas's tag-and-certificate rule is written for plant dealers shipping commercially, so houseplants you're bringing along yourself aren't caught by it.
Source & details
All live plants sold, delivered, transported or shipped into or within this state by a live plant dealer shall be accompanied by a tag, label, itemized bill of lading, receipt or other document on which shall appear the name and address of the consigner or shipper, a description of the contents and the place of origin.
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
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: The tag-and-certificate rule covers plant dealers, not someone moving their own potted plants. Yours can travel as they are.
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 live plants sold, delivered, transported or shipped into or within this state by a live plant dealer shall be accompanied by a tag, label, itemized bill of lading, receipt or other document on which shall appear the name and address of the consigner or shipper, a description of the contents and the place of origin.
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Citrus trees
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 2 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: What Kansas 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)
In addition, all live plants, including annuals, bedding, herbaceous, and woody perennials, shipped into Kansas must have attached to each quantity or package a tag or label on which shall appear a copy of a valid certificate of inspection issued by the proper state plant regulatory official indicating the shipment is in compliance with Kansas Pest Freedom Standards.
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
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 Kansas 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)
In addition, all live plants, including annuals, bedding, herbaceous, and woody perennials, shipped into Kansas must have attached to each quantity or package a tag or label on which shall appear a copy of a valid certificate of inspection issued by the proper state plant regulatory official indicating the shipment is in compliance with Kansas Pest Freedom Standards.
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
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 Kansas 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)
In addition, all live plants, including annuals, bedding, herbaceous, and woody perennials, shipped into Kansas must have attached to each quantity or package a tag or label on which shall appear a copy of a valid certificate of inspection issued by the proper state plant regulatory official indicating the shipment is in compliance with Kansas Pest Freedom Standards.
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
Fine
Cut flowers and cut greenery aren't live plants under Kansas's rules, as long as they're not for planting, so no tag or certificate is needed.
Source & details
Current exclusions include: field and forage crops, seeds of any kind, cut flowers and cut greenery not used for propagation, and fruits and vegetables used for food or feed, (K.S.A. 4-15-4).
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
Seeds & bulbs
No data
What Kansas publishes about seeds and bulbs is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.
Source & details
In addition, all live plants, including annuals, bedding, herbaceous, and woody perennials, shipped into Kansas must have attached to each quantity or package a tag or label on which shall appear a copy of a valid certificate of inspection issued by the proper state plant regulatory official indicating the shipment is in compliance with Kansas Pest Freedom Standards.
Current exclusions include: field and forage crops, seeds of any kind, cut flowers and cut greenery not used for propagation, and fruits and vegetables used for food or feed, (K.S.A. 4-15-4).
Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · Kansas: Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
Firewood
Not allowed
It's illegal to bring firewood in from a state that has thousand cankers disease. Kansas would rather you left out-of-state firewood at home altogether.
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)
Additionally, it is illegal to bring firewood into Kansas from states infested with thousand cankers disease .
KS 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: Kansas says it plainly: there's nothing stopping you moving hay or straw into or through the state.
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)
There are no restrictions on moving hay or straw into or through Kansas. We appreciate your efforts to reduce the movement of noxious weeds into our beautiful state.
Frequently Asked Questions, Kansas Department of Agriculture · checked 14 Sep 2026
Soil & compost
Conditional
- Certificate
Soil, compost, humus and manure can carry Japanese beetle, so they need certifying under the Japanese beetle plan before they come in. Mix that arrives commercially packaged is the exception.
You'd need: Certificate showing it meets the Japanese beetle plan
Because of: Japanese beetle.
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)
Regulated articles shipped to category 1 and category 2 states must be produced and certified according to options as outlined additional requirements or limitations imposed by a state quarantine must be followed.
* Kansas KS 2 Hawaii HI 1
Soil, humus, compost, manure, and all growing media (except when commercially packaged) All plants with roots (except bareroot plants free from soil). Free from soil means plants with less the amount of soil or growing media that can harbor any life stage of Japanese beetle (egg, pupa, or larva). Some states define this as free from soil or growing media larger than ½ inch. Grass sod Plants with crowns or roots for propagation (except when free from soil) Bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes of ornamental plants (except when free from soil)
U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Still stuck? The people who answer this in Kansas are Kansas Department of Agriculture.