Can you fly with plants, seeds, and soil?

TSA places no restrictions on plants for domestic US travel — but the moment you cross an international border, USDA and CBP rules take over and they are strict. Soil is always prohibited from entering the United States without an advance permit, potted plants are banned outright, and failing to declare plants or seeds at customs can cost up to $1,000 per offense. Here is every rule, by scenario.

Can you bring plants on a domestic US flight?

TSA does not classify plants as restricted items, so you can carry most plants, cuttings, and seeds in carry-on or checked baggage on domestic US flights with no federal restrictions. There are no TSA rules limiting plant travel between most states. The exceptions that matter are flights originating in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or US territories, where USDA inspects baggage before departure to protect mainland agriculture from invasive pests.

• TSA permits plants in both carry-on and checked bags on domestic routes
• No federal limit on plant travel between the contiguous 48 states
• Hawaii and Puerto Rico: USDA pre-departure baggage inspection required before flying to the mainland
• California and Arizona: state agriculture inspections can intercept restricted species after you land

Can you bring plants back into the US from another country?

International travelers face strict USDA and CBP rules at the US port of entry. You may bring up to 12 bare-root plants — all soil, sand, and growing media must be completely removed — if they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the National Plant Protection Organization of the country you are leaving and they pass USDA inspection on arrival. Potted plants arriving in any soil are prohibited without exception for personal quantities. Cut flowers from major export countries including Colombia and Ecuador are generally permitted but must be free of soil, insects, and disease.

Is soil allowed on any flight?

No soil or earth of any kind — including sand, peat, or other growing media — is permitted into the United States without a permit issued in advance by the USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. This permit is not available at the airport; it must be arranged before you travel. Domestic flyers are not federally restricted from carrying soil, but California and Arizona agriculture programs can seize it. If you are arriving internationally with bare-root plants, you must remove every trace of soil before you board your flight home.

• Soil entering the US from abroad requires a prior USDA permit — not obtainable at the airport
• Bare-root means zero soil: sand, peat, coir, and other growing media all count as prohibited
• Domestic travel: no federal ban on soil, but state ag checkpoints in California and Arizona apply
• Contact USDA APHIS at 877-770-5990 or plantproducts.permits@usda.gov to apply for a soil permit before travel

Can you fly with seeds?

On domestic US flights, TSA places no restriction on seeds. For international arrivals to the US, the rules split by plant type: commercially packaged, sealed seeds of herbaceous plants for planting are conditionally allowed if they come with a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin. Seeds from trees and shrubs are prohibited in passenger baggage on international routes. Keeping seeds in their original sealed retail packaging and obtaining a phytosanitary certificate gives you the best chance of clearing customs inspection.

• Domestic US flights: seeds are unrestricted by TSA
• Internationally inbound: herbaceous plant seeds may be allowed with phytosanitary certificate
• Tree and shrub seeds: prohibited in passenger baggage on international routes
• Always declare seeds on CBP Form 6059B regardless of type or quantity

What are the rules for flying out of Hawaii or Puerto Rico?

Hawaii is treated as a distinct plant-health zone: USDA inspects every bag — both checked and carry-on — at Hawaiian airports before any flight bound for the US mainland, Alaska, or Guam. Some rooted plants also require a certificate from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture before they can leave the island. Puerto Rico is subject to similar USDA pre-departure inspection requirements. Both programs exist to prevent the spread of established invasive pests such as the little fire ant, coffee berry borer, and Oriental fruit fly to the mainland.

• USDA conducts 100% baggage inspection at Hawaiian airports before mainland-bound flights
• Some rooted plants require Hawaii Department of Agriculture certification in addition to USDA clearance
• Puerto Rico: plants must be declared and inspected before traveling to the continental US
• Items that fail inspection are confiscated at the airport — not at your mainland destination

Do California and Arizona have their own plant inspection rules?

Yes — both states maintain active agricultural quarantine programs that apply to air travelers in addition to road travelers. California's Department of Food and Agriculture prohibits all plants, trees, and loose fruit of the Rutaceae family (all citrus) from entering the state, including oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and kumquats. Stone fruits, avocados, grapes, tomatoes, and home-grown produce are also commonly flagged at California checkpoints. Arizona restricts citrus nursery stock from quarantine areas without state certification. Items found in baggage can be confiscated at either state.

• California: all citrus (Rutaceae family) plants and fruit are prohibited from entry
• California: stone fruits, avocados, grapes, peppers, and tomatoes commonly stopped at checkpoints
• Arizona: citrus nursery stock from quarantine areas requires state certification before entry
• House plants must be indoor-grown, visibly pest-free, and disease-free to enter California

What happens if you forget to declare plants or seeds at customs?

Failure to declare plants, seeds, or soil at US customs can result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per first-time offense for non-commercial quantities. The critical nuance is that declaring an item does not mean it will be confiscated — USDA inspectors evaluate everything declared and may approve it after examination. Only undeclared items found during CBP inspection face automatic fines. Repeat offenses and commercial quantities carry significantly higher penalties and potential criminal charges.

• First-time non-commercial violation: civil penalty up to $1,000 per item or category
• Declaring an item means inspection — not automatic confiscation
• Commercial quantities face much higher fines and possible criminal referral
• Always check Yes on the agricultural items question of CBP Form 6059B, even for items you believe are allowed

For a complete picture of what you can and cannot bring through airport security, see what you can bring through airport security. If you're navigating US customs for the first time, what to expect at US customs walks through the full arrival process. And for managing bags generally on your trip, see the how to avoid checked bag fees guide.

Rules verified June 29, 2026. Sources: USDA APHIS plants & plant parts, USDA traveling from another country, CBP agricultural products, USDA soil rules, USDA Hawaii, CDFA plant transport, Arizona Agriculture plants FAQ.