Plant Shipment & Export (Phytos)

Shipping Houseplants

If you are moving your household to another state or country, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides a service to homeowners or renters by inspecting plants and plant products to certify that the plants are free of insects and diseases. Following the inspection, the plants will be accompanied by a plant health certificate.

Having your houseplants inspected avoids costly delays and the possibility that your plants may be rejected or destroyed at your destination.  Shipping houseplants to states such as Arizona, Calfornia, Oregon, Florida, Hawaii and Washington are especially likely to be rejected if they do not have certification.

Plant health certificates cost $50.00.

To Apply

• Please apply for plant health certificate as soon as possible, ideally about 21 days prior to shipment to allow time for the inspection time and then time to process the certificate.
• To apply for the certificate
  • Download the application for export processed plant products certificate – 1 page PDF
  • Complete the application form and return it to the address listed on the form. Faxing the completed application is best. Fax completed application to 608-224-4571.
  • You will have to pay upon inspection.

Please allow 10 days to process and issue the certificate following the inspection.

Information to collect and provide to the inspector when they arrive for the inspection:

• Your current address
• New address or new state
• Current phone and fax numbers and best times to call
• Directions to location
• Best time to visit for inspection
• Moving date
• Number and species of plants.

Don’t Move Gypsy Moth

If you will be moving items that were stored outdoors and you live in an area that has gypsy moth, you can do a self-inspection to ensure you are not carrying gypsy moth life stages to areas that are free of gypsy moth. The United States Department of Agriculture has a brochure to help you with this self-inspection process.

Don’t Move Gypsy Moth - 8 page PDF

Questions on plant inspections or shipping houseplants? Contact Greg Helmbrecht, 608-224-4596 or send an email.