Adenium from Thailand: What Seed, Seedlings and Grafted Plants Need to Enter the USA

Why do collectors buy adenium from Thailand?

Thailand is one of several adenium breeding countries. Sources point to more than one centre. LLIFLE lists the USA, Thailand, Taiwan and India as places where hybrids were developed.

In Asia breeding and selection efforts were probably most intense in Thailand.

Source: Adenium obesum hybrid, LLIFLE Encyclopedia of Succulents, llifle.com.

The Arizona Daily Star wrote in 2008 that adenium is bred commercially in Asia, primarily in Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. Adenium is listed by the AIPH as a Thai ornamental export. There are no adenium figures for 2023. AIPH gives only a total of 132 million USD for 2023.

Seed, seedling, grafted plant or bare-root caudex: which form should you buy?

Seeds grow a new plant, not a named hybrid. Seedlings and grafted plants travel bare root. Named hybrids are mainly grafted. A thick caudex plant carries most of the US rules.

LLIFLE says the hybrids are propagated mainly by grafting onto seedling rootstock. UF/IFAS says growers lift the plants (root washed) to show the caudex. A US plant patent from a Bangkok breeder describes grafted plants shipped from Thailand to the Netherlands.

Sources: USDA APHIS ACIR; Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, Revision 21 (2026), hts.usitc.gov.

Does adenium from Thailand need a USDA permit?

No USDA permit is required for 12 plants or fewer. A permit is required from 13. Seeds always require a permit. APHIS generally admits Adenium from countries not on the potato cyst nematode infested country list. Thailand is not on the APHIS infested country list.

Shipments of 12 or fewer plants for planting do not require a permit or a Green and Yellow Label (PPQ 508).

Source: Generally Admissible Woody Plants for Planting, Genus Adenium from Non-PCN Countries, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

From 13 plants the buyer applies for a PPQ 587 in APHIS eFile. APHIS says the process can take up to 2 months. Only U.S. residents can apply. ACIR does not say whether 12 or fewer is per parcel or per order, so splitting an order into small boxes is a question for APHIS.

Adenium is not on the NAPPRA list. Catharanthus, Vinca, Carissa are on the NAPPRA list. ACIR bars NAPPRA plants from the same container. The certificate should name the genus, preferably the species or cultivar, and for a hybrid the parents can be listed if known.

Guide: phytosanitary certificate in Thailand, plumeria from Thailand to the USA

Are adenium seeds from Thailand legal to import?

Yes, small lots of seed can be imported under the small lots of seed permit. Up to 50 packets, each up to 50 seeds or 10 grams of one taxon. They must be sealed and sent through a USDA Plant Inspection Station. Coated or pelleted adenium seed is not admissible.

ACIR lists Adenium in the small lots document, and no phytosanitary certificate is needed under that permit. Hand carry in baggage is not permitted. APHIS warns seeds purchased online from sellers outside the United States may not meet import requirements.

Obscured seeds of woody plants are not admissible.

Source: Inadmissible Obscured Seed, Order Gentianales, from All Countries Doc 1, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

How old or how big can a Thai adenium be for the USA?

ACIR admits whole adenium plants with 2 years of growth or less. A grafted plant is counted from the graft. Older caudex plants are not permitted entry. ACIR does not say whether the caudex counts as the root crown.

2 years' growth or less from the bud or graft (if in doubt, then contact your local plant inspection station to determine if meets size-age restrictions)

Source: Plants for Planting - General Restrictions, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

Sources: Generally Admissible Woody Plants for Planting, Genus Adenium from Non-PCN Countries; Plants for Planting - General Restrictions; USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

Adenium bonsai have their own ACIR document. They are not covered by the general 12-plant exemption. Plants over 2 years old need a phytosanitary certificate stating that they have been in a screened greenhouse for at least 2 years in a registered nursery.

Is adenium protected by CITES or a plant patent?

Adenium is not CITES-listed. Pachypodium, a genus of the same family, is CITES-listed. A mixed box needs care. A US plant patent on a named cultivar can block its import.

Your search did not match any taxa.

Source: Checklist of CITES Species (search for Adenium obesum), CITES Secretariat, checklist.cites.org.

Adenium obesum is not on the CITES checklist as of 19 October 2026. Searching for Adenium returns no Adenium species. One hit in the family Apocynaceae is Pachypodium namaquanum, Appendix II, whose old synonym is Adenium namaquanum. A Thai breeder is named as the inventor on US plant patents for adenium cultivars, among them PP24852, crossed in a Bangkok nursery in 2006. Under 35 U.S.C. 163 a plant patent covers imports.

from importing the plant so reproduced, or any parts thereof, into the United States.

Source: 35 U.S. Code Section 163, Grant, Legal Information Institute, law.cornell.edu.

What duty does adenium pay at US customs?

Rooted adenium pays 4.8 percent under HTS 0602.90.90 plus 12.5 percent Section 301 tariff on products of Thailand. Unrooted cuttings pay 4.8 percent under HTS 0602.10.00 without the 12.5 percent. Seed under HTS 1209.99.20 is free.

the Trade Representative has determined to impose 12.5 percent tariffs on products of Thailand

Source: Notice of Actions in Section 301 Investigations, Office of the United States Trade Representative, federalregister.gov.

The tariff applies from 24 July 2026. U.S. note 52(b) exempts 0602.10.00 and 1209.99.20 but does not list 0602.90.90. No CBP ruling on adenium was found, so the broker classifies the line. A CBP rule of 24 June 2026 requires formal or informal entry for low-value goods by any mode except the international postal network.

Guide: US de minimis suspended, what it means for a parcel from Thailand

How Dragon Courier ships adenium from Thailand

We ship live plants from Thailand to the USA on our own Delivery Duty Paid plant service. The customer needs no import permit. We provide the phytosanitary certificate and CITES documents free of charge for USA.

We have an import permit for each market. Please contact our team for a copy of the plants on our permit. Plants are bare root with new sphagnum moss. Each plant has different requirements, we recommend asking the plant sellers to pack. We collect with air conditioned vans made for plants. Temperature controlled door to door. We can help with CITES permits. Please contact our team for full details. We are happy to help!

We don't offer insurance for live plants. Plant rate declared value is limited to USD 1,000 per shipment to the USA. The shipper alone is responsible for declaration, value and compliance.

Source: Dragon Plant Export Rate, valid 10 June 2026, inclusive of fuel surcharge.

Transit to the USA is 2 to 5 working days, and 3 to 5 to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. If a box is held, we work with USDA and the plant seller in Thailand to get it released urgently.

Guides: plant export from Thailand, sending plants from Thailand to US buyers

About Dragon Courier

Dragon Courier is a family owned courier company in Thailand. We have more than 30 years of experience in logistics. We send more than 20,000 packages a month to over 200 destinations. All customs clearance and any duty or tax is included in our price.

Contacts and drop-off

We need the plant names, number of plants, weight and destination for a shipping cost. Office +66 2656 9019. Justin on LINE and WhatsApp +66 6-5937-0812. Email info@dragoncourier.com.

You can drop off plants until 5pm Monday to Saturday. Our Bangkok office is located on Sukhumvit Soi 4 (217/3 Crystal Garden Building, 3rd floor, Klongtoey 10110). Please message us for a pickup date and time that suits.

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