Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to Louisiana
Can I bring my plants into Louisiana?
Louisiana wants an inspection certificate tag travelling with anything ornamental, houseplants included, not just what a nursery sells. If you're leaving a state where the brown garden snail has taken hold, your plants have to be certified snail-free too.
- Checked Sep 2026
What Louisiana asks for
- HouseplantsHouseplants (no outdoor soil)Conditional
- Potted plants in soilPotted plants in soilConditional
- Citrus treesCitrus treesDepends
- Other fruit treesOther fruit treesConditional
- Nursery stock & shrubsNursery stock & shrubsConditional
- Cut flowers & bouquetsCut flowers & bouquetsNo data
- Seeds & bulbsSeeds & bulbsConditional
- FirewoodFirewoodNot allowed
- 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)
Conditional
- Certificate
Louisiana's rule reaches ornamental plants generally, not just what a nursery sells, so your houseplants need an inspection certificate tag travelling with them.
You'd need: Inspection certificate tag, travelling with the plants
Source & details
Regulated material, including ornamental, horticultural and nursery stock, moved into or within Louisiana directly from any state not infested with European Brown Garden Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag).
originating from any state or area of any state known to be infested with European Brown Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, and moved into or within Louisiana must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag) and shall be certified snail-free in a manner approved by the department.
La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · checked 14 Sep 2026
Potted plants in soil
Conditional
- Certificate
A potted plant needs an inspection certificate tag. If you're leaving a state where the brown garden snail has taken hold, it also has to be certified snail-free, since a pot of soil is how one travels.
You'd need: Inspection certificate tag, travelling with the plants · Certification that it's snail-free, if you're leaving a state where the snail has taken hold
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 material, including ornamental, horticultural and nursery stock, moved into or within Louisiana directly from any state not infested with European Brown Garden Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag).
originating from any state or area of any state known to be infested with European Brown Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, and moved into or within Louisiana must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag) and shall be certified snail-free in a manner approved by the department.
La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · checked 14 Sep 2026
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 can come in if the inspector back home writes on the certificate that the nursery sits in an area with no known tristeza. From an area that has it, the wood has to come from a registered budwood programme.
You'd need: Inspection certificate carrying the inspector's statement about tristeza
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)
Citrus nursery stock, scions and/or budwood may move into Louisiana from areas where tristeza is not known to occur, provided the certifying official in the state of origin states on the certificate of inspection that the nursery is located in an area of the state of origin in which tristeza is not known to occur.
Citrus nursery stock, scions and/or budwood may move into Louisiana from areas in which tristeza is known to occur, provided it has been grown under a citrus budwood registration program against tristeza, xyloporosis, psorosis and exo
La. Admin. Code tit. 7 § XV-127: Citrus Nursery Stock, Scions and Budwood · La. Admin. Code tit. 7 § XV-127: Citrus Nursery Stock, Scions and Budwood · checked 14 Sep 2026
Other fruit trees
Conditional
- Certificate
A fruit tree needs an inspection certificate tag to come into Louisiana, plus snail-free certification if you're leaving a state where the brown garden snail has taken hold.
You'd need: Inspection certificate tag, travelling with the plants · Certification that it's snail-free, if you're leaving a state where the snail has taken hold
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)
Regulated material, including ornamental, horticultural and nursery stock, moved into or within Louisiana directly from any state not infested with European Brown Garden Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag).
originating from any state or area of any state known to be infested with European Brown Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, and moved into or within Louisiana must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag) and shall be certified snail-free in a manner approved by the department.
La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · checked 14 Sep 2026
Nursery stock & shrubs
Conditional
- Certificate
Plants coming into Louisiana need an inspection certificate tag with them. If the state you're leaving has the brown garden snail, they also have to be certified snail-free.
You'd need: Inspection certificate tag, travelling with the plants · Certification that it's snail-free, if you're leaving a state where the snail has taken hold
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)
Regulated material, including ornamental, horticultural and nursery stock, moved into or within Louisiana directly from any state not infested with European Brown Garden Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag).
originating from any state or area of any state known to be infested with European Brown Snail or other Phytophagous Snails injurious to live plants, and moved into or within Louisiana must be accompanied by a certificate of nursery inspection (tag) and shall be certified snail-free in a manner approved by the department.
La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · La. Admin. Code tit. 7, § XV-131: Phytophagous Snails · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
No data
No data yet on bringing cut flowers and bouquets into Louisiana.
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is the office that answers this one.
Seeds & bulbs
Conditional
- Certificate
Louisiana names bulbs on its list, so a shipment of them needs the inspection certificate tag. True seeds aren't covered by this rule either way.
You'd need: Inspection certificate tag, naming who grew or shipped the plants
Source & details
All nursery stock shipments entering Louisiana must be accompanied by a valid nursery certificate of inspection tag indicating that the stock is apparently free from especially injurious insect pests and plant diseases. Certificate tags shall include the name and address of the producer and/or shipper. Regulated material includes assorted foliage, bulbs, bedding plants, grasses (ornamental and sod), indoor flowering plants, shrubs, strawberry plants and trees (deciduous shade, fruit and nut).
Louisiana Summary of Plant Protection Regulations, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Firewood
Not allowed
- Certificate
Firewood without a certificate can't leave an area that has emerald ash borer for one that doesn't. Louisiana has fire ant and laurel wilt too, and asks you to buy firewood locally.
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)
Louisiana prohibits the transport uncertified firewood out of areas quarantined for emerald ash borer into non-quarantined areas .
LA 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. 5 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: No data yet on bringing hay and straw into Louisiana.
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 Louisiana.
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)
Louisiana treats 2 origins differently
Florida: Conditional . Soil and sand are restricted here because of the burrowing nematode. You'll need an official certificate from Florida saying a survey found none where it came from, or that it was produced clean and kept that way.
Hawaii: Conditional . Soil and sand are restricted here because of the burrowing nematode. You'll need an official certificate from Florida saying a survey found none where it came from, or that it was produced clean and kept that way.
Still stuck? The people who answer this in Louisiana are Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.