Can I Bring My Plants?

Moving to West Virginia

Can I bring my plants into West Virginia?

West Virginia asks what the plant is for. Anything woody you'll put in the ground outside needs an inspection certificate attached where it can be seen, while plants you keep indoors, cut flowers and seeds fall outside the rules.

  • Checked Sep 2026
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What West Virginia 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)

Fine

Plants kept indoors don't count here, so a houseplant needs no certificate.

Source & details
Florists' or greenhouse plants for inside culture or use, unless declared otherwise by the commissioner, as herein authorized, shall not be considered nursery stock, except that all woody plants, whether greenhouse or field grown, if for outside planting, are hereby defined as nursery stock.
means all trees, shrubs and woody vines, including ornamentals, bush fruits, grapevines, fruit trees and nut trees, whether cultivated, native or wild, and all buds, grafts, scions, fruit pits and cuttings from such plants
It shall be unlawful to deliver, transport or ship within this state, nursery stock which has not been inspected in accordance with the provisions of this article and which does not carry an inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload,

W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · W. Va. Code § 19-12-11: Nursery stock brought into state to carry inspection certificate · checked 14 Sep 2026

Houseplants in every state

Potted plants in soil

Conditional

  • Certificate

What matters here is where the plant is going. A woody plant you'll put in the ground outside needs an inspection certificate, however it was grown; one you'll keep indoors doesn't.

You'd need: Inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload or other container

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)

It shall be unlawful to deliver, transport or ship within this state, nursery stock which has not been inspected in accordance with the provisions of this article and which does not carry an inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload,
Florists' or greenhouse plants for inside culture or use, unless declared otherwise by the commissioner, as herein authorized, shall not be considered nursery stock, except that all woody plants, whether greenhouse or field grown, if for outside planting, are hereby defined as nursery stock.
means all trees, shrubs and woody vines, including ornamentals, bush fruits, grapevines, fruit trees and nut trees, whether cultivated, native or wild, and all buds, grafts, scions, fruit pits and cuttings from such plants

W. Va. Code § 19-12-11: Nursery stock brought into state to carry inspection certificate · W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · 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: A citrus tree you'll keep indoors is left out here, so nothing's needed. One you'd plant outside would need an inspection certificate.

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)

Florists' or greenhouse plants for inside culture or use, unless declared otherwise by the commissioner, as herein authorized, shall not be considered nursery stock, except that all woody plants, whether greenhouse or field grown, if for outside planting, are hereby defined as nursery stock.
means all trees, shrubs and woody vines, including ornamentals, bush fruits, grapevines, fruit trees and nut trees, whether cultivated, native or wild, and all buds, grafts, scions, fruit pits and cuttings from such plants
It shall be unlawful to deliver, transport or ship within this state, nursery stock which has not been inspected in accordance with the provisions of this article and which does not carry an inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload,

W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · W. Va. Code § 19-12-11: Nursery stock brought into state to carry inspection certificate · checked 14 Sep 2026

Citrus trees in every state

Other fruit trees

Conditional

  • Certificate

Fruit and nut trees are named here, so an inspection certificate has to be attached to whatever they travel in.

You'd need: Inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload or other container

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)

It shall be unlawful to deliver, transport or ship within this state, nursery stock which has not been inspected in accordance with the provisions of this article and which does not carry an inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload,
means all trees, shrubs and woody vines, including ornamentals, bush fruits, grapevines, fruit trees and nut trees, whether cultivated, native or wild, and all buds, grafts, scions, fruit pits and cuttings from such plants
Florists' or greenhouse plants for inside culture or use, unless declared otherwise by the commissioner, as herein authorized, shall not be considered nursery stock, except that all woody plants, whether greenhouse or field grown, if for outside planting, are hereby defined as nursery stock.

W. Va. Code § 19-12-11: Nursery stock brought into state to carry inspection certificate · W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026

Other fruit trees in every state

Nursery stock & shrubs

Conditional

  • Certificate

Shrubs and trees have to be inspected first, with the certificate attached to each load, box or package. Moving them without one breaks the law.

You'd need: Inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload, box, bale or 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)

It shall be unlawful to deliver, transport or ship within this state, nursery stock which has not been inspected in accordance with the provisions of this article and which does not carry an inspection certificate attached to each carload, truckload,

W. Va. Code § 19-12-11: Nursery stock brought into state to carry inspection certificate · checked 14 Sep 2026

Nursery stock & shrubs in every state

Cut flowers & bouquets

Fine

The list here is trees, shrubs, woody vines and a handful of named plants. A bouquet with no roots isn't on it, so nothing's needed.

Source & details
means all trees, shrubs and woody vines, including ornamentals, bush fruits, grapevines, fruit trees and nut trees, whether cultivated, native or wild, and all buds, grafts, scions, fruit pits and cuttings from such plants

W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · 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

Narcissus bulbs only count if the state has specially named them, and seeds aren't on the list at all.

Source & details
such herbaceous plants, including strawberry plants, narcissus plants and narcissus bulbs as the commissioner declares by rule to be so included whenever he or she considers control of the movement of such plants and bulbs necessary for the control of any destructive plant pest.

W. Va. Code § 19-12-2: Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out

Seeds & bulbs in every state

Firewood

Not allowed

You can't bring firewood in from a state that has thousand cankers disease of walnut. Federal rules also bar bringing it into south-west West Virginia from a spongy moth 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)

It is also against federal regulations to transport firewood into southwestern WV from other states’ spongy moth quarantine zones.
State regulation legally restricts the transport firewood into WV from any state with a known infestation of thousand cankers disease of walnut .

WV firewood rules, Don’t Move Firewood (The Nature Conservancy) · WV 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 West Virginia.

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 West Virginia.

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 West Virginia are West Virginia Department of Agriculture.