Skip to content
Elisabeth C. Miller Library

Keyword: Plant protection--Law and Regulations

RHS Find a Plant

The RHS Plant Finder and RHS Plant Selector combined into a single Find a Plant service, searching over 250.000 plant records. RHS Find a Plant is the standard bearer of the plant source genre published by the Royal Horticultural Society in Britain. Considered an authority for nomenclature, the Plant Finder also relates additional information such as if a plant won an award, has doubled flowers or which classification the plant belongs to within its type (e.g. a damask rose is designated with a “D”). Also available in print, this resource is useful simply for its reference value, even if you don’t plan to start importing plants.

Crossing borders with houseplants

I live in Seattle, but am going to Canada for an extended stay. Can I bring my houseplants across the border?

Generally, Canada allows houseplants from the mainland United States, but you may be asked to provide proof of origin at the border. The Canadian government page on guidelines for visitors and seasonal residents spells out the details. Here is an excerpt:
“Houseplants are defined as plants commonly known and recognized as such, which are grown or intended to be grown indoors. Bonsai plants are not considered to be houseplants. If you are importing houseplants from the continental United States as part of your baggage or household effects, you do not need phytosanitary certificates or import permits. For all other plants from the United States, you may require a phytosanitary certificate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an import permit from the CFIA.”

Plant Import – Small Lots of Seed – USDA

Lots of seed may be imported without a phytosanitary certificate under the conditions outlined on this page. A permit is still required, but importing seed packets from plant breeders in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world is now feasible for non-commercial American gardeners.