Caudex Plants from Thailand: Pachypodium, Dorstenia and Other Thai-Grown Caudiciforms for Overseas Buyers

What are caudex plants, and which ones do Thai growers sell?

A caudex is a swollen stem or base that stores water. A university extension service gives this definition.

A fat, short, swollen stem is referred to by botanists as a caudex, while plants that display this kind of growth habit are called caudiciform plants.

Source: Caudiciform Plants, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension, uaex.uada.edu.

The same page places caudiciform plants in many families, among them passion vine, grape, euphorbia and dogbane. Thai nursery shops checked on 26 October 2026 list Pachypodium, Euphorbia, Operculicarya, Adenia, Jatropha, Cyphostemma, Dorstenia. Other Thai shops sell Stephania erecta. The rules differ by genus, and CITES listing comes first.

Which caudex genera are CITES-listed?

Pachypodium, succulent Euphorbia and Operculicarya are listed. Dorstenia, Stephania, Jatropha and Fockea are not. The CITES checklist in force from 5 March 2026 gives the verdict species by species.

Sources: Checklist of CITES Species, CITES Secretariat, checklist.cites.org, read 26 October 2026; Appendices valid from 5 March 2026, cites.org.

Check the species, not the genus. The checklist has 716 Euphorbia taxa and 26 Pachypodium entries. Adenia globosa and Adenia pechuelii, sold by Thai shops, are not on the checklist.

Succulent species only of Euphorbia (except Euphorbia misera and the species included in CITES Appendix I) are regulated as CITES Appendix II, #4 and this applies to all propagules except seeds.

Source: Admissible Plants for Planting, Genus Euphorbia, CITES II 4, P2 (Succulent Species Only), from Non-PCN Countries Doc 10, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

Annotation #4 exempts seeds, seedlings in vitro in sterile containers and cut flowers of propagated plants. A live caudex plant is not any of these. Pachypodium seed is exempt from CITES, but the buyer still needs a PPQ 587 permit. The small lots permit allows up to 50 seeds of one taxon per package or 10 grams, up to 50 packages per shipment, sent by courier or mail to a USDA plant inspection station, not hand carried. The Euphorbia annotation exempts only propagated Euphorbia trigona cultivars, grafted Euphorbia lactea mutants on neriifolia stock, and Euphorbia milii cultivars in shipments of 100 or more.

A grafted plant counts as artificially propagated only if the stock and the graft are both propagated. A graft of taxa from different Appendices takes the stricter one, 50 CFR 23.64(e). A hybrid with two or more CITES taxa takes the stricter Appendix, 23.42.

What does Thailand require to export a CITES caudex plant?

An exporter of endangered plants must get a Thai export permit from the Department of Agriculture. The usual Thai phytosanitary certificate comes on top. The Thai government portal describes the procedure.

The endangered plants to be exported must originate from a registered endangered plant nursery under the Department of Agriculture, or there must be evidence demonstrating the source of the endangered plants.

Source: Procedure for obtaining an export permit for endangered plants and plant residues, Digital Government Development Agency, thailand.go.th.

The form is Por Por 13, with proof of where the plants came from. The Thai government page, last updated in 2023, says 100 baht per permit and 1 hour for up to 10 plant types. The CITES Secretariat lists the Department of Agriculture, Office of Plant Varieties Protection, as the Management Authority for flora. The phytosanitary certificate is a separate paper with its own guide.

Guide: phytosanitary certificate in Thailand

What does the USA require for CITES caudex plants?

The USA asks for three papers and a port: PPQ 587 Import Permit, Thai CITES Export Permit, Phytosanitary Certificate issued not more than 15 days before shipment. A business importing CITES plants also needs the USDA Protected Plant Permit. Plants can only enter through CITES designated ports.

CITES shipments MUST enter at a CITES designated port

Source: CITES II Plants for Planting (Woody), Pachypodium, from Non-PCN Countries, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

Sources: USDA APHIS ACIR; CITES (Endangered Plant Species) and Plants With Special Requirements, USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

The Protected Plant Permit is worded for those in the business of importing. APHIS has not said whether a private collector needs it or not, so a collector asks APHIS.

In addition, the seller must obtain a CITES Certificate/Permit from the country of origin. This document must accompany the shipment.

Source: Plants With Special Requirements, USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

The packing list gives the scientific name to the lowest taxon and the number of plants per taxon. Each container is labeled with the genus and species. If there is more than one species they must be in separate packaging, box, bag, crate or rack.

There are 15 USDA ports designated for CITES plants, 50 CFR 24.12, list below. Hilo and Chicago take orchids. A CITES shipment landing elsewhere is re-exported or rerouted. Invalid or missing CITES documents can mean forfeiture, 7 CFR 356. Shipping and handling charges are the importer's.

CITES designated ports (50 CFR 24.12): Nogales, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Honolulu, New Orleans, Hoboken (Port of New York), Jamaica (New York), San Juan, Brownsville, El Paso, Houston, Seattle.

Does the 12-plant exemption apply to caudex plants?

Not for the CITES genera. The ACIR documents for Pachypodium, succulent Euphorbia and Operculicarya don't have the 12 plant exception. For Dorstenia, Stephania, Jatropha, Fockea, and for Cyphostemma and Adenia that are not listed, the exception stays.

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, Order Rosales from Non-PCN Countries Doc 1, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

Sources: USDA APHIS ACIR, one document per row, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

The 12-plant line applies only if no specific restriction applies, and APHIS has not said whether 12 plants per package or 12 plants per order applies. Splitting the order into small boxes is up to APHIS to decide. Ask APHIS first.

Can an Appendix I plant such as Pachypodium baronii be shipped?

Appendix I means stop and ask. Four Pachypodium species and 11 Euphorbia species are there, under the heaviest rules.

International trade in these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances and cannot be primarily for commercial use. Both an import and export permit (or re-export certificate) are required for trade.

Source: CITES Appendices, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, fws.gov.

The ACIR Appendix I list includes Pachypodium ambongense, baronii, decaryi and windsorii and 10 Euphorbia species. A CITES import permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service is also required. APHIS states that the Fish and Wildlife Service requires import permits for wild collected Appendix I species.

On paper, there is a pathway for nursery plants from Thailand. Under 50 CFR 23.47 an Appendix I plant propagated for commercial purposes is treated as Appendix II if it comes from a nursery registered with the CITES Secretariat, or meets the rules of that section. The CITES document then shows source code D, and a qualifying plant needs no CITES import permit. The plant stays Appendix I, with no annotation exemption. ACIR says nothing about this route. Whether a Thai nursery qualifies shows only in its paperwork, so the buyer asks the Fish and Wildlife Service and APHIS before ordering.

How old or how big can a caudex plant be for the USA?

The limit is in the ACIR document for the genus. Woody documents allow whole plants with 2 years growth or less. Herbaceous documents allow whole plants up to 18 inches from the soil line and root crowns up to 4 inches across.

Whole plants shipped into the United States should not be older than 2 years.

Source: Plants With Special Requirements, USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

Sources: USDA APHIS ACIR, genus documents; Plants for Planting - General Restrictions, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

A thick caudex is the hard case. ACIR does not specify if a caudex counts as root crown or part of the whole plant. Old large Pachypodium or Fockea can be refused at the plant inspection station. The buyer should ask the station before ordering a plant older than 2 years.

Which genera are barred or treated at the US port?

A mixed caudex box can carry barred genera. Three are listed by APHIS as Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis (NAPPRA): Phyllanthus (all parts except seeds, all countries), Ipomoea (all countries except Canada), Pelargonium. ACIR bars NAPPRA plants from the same container as admitted plants. A barred plant does not belong in the box.

Dioscorea is admitted but treated. APHIS says Dioscorea yam tubers are treated at the US port of entry. The ACIR treatment is T202-d, methyl bromide fumigation at the port.

Pachypodium, Euphorbia, Operculicarya, Dorstenia, Stephania, Cyphostemma, Jatropha, Adenia, Fockea are not on any of the three NAPPRA lists APHIS publishes.

What duty do caudex plants pay at US customs?

Rooted plants pay a base rate plus 12.5%. The base is 4.8% under HTS 0602.90.90, other live plants, or 3.5% under 0602.90.40 if the herbaceous perennial line applies. Unrooted cuttings pay 4.8% under 0602.10.00 and are exempt from the 12.5%.

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 seed lines, not 0602.90.90 or 0602.90.40. No CBP ruling on caudex plants was found. CBP ruling NY J82697 of 2003 put rooted soil-free cactus in 0602.90.9090 at 4.8 percent, an analogy, not a caudex ruling. The broker classifies the line.

Yes. Under a CBP rule of 24 June 2026, goods of 800 USD or less need formal or informal entry, unless they come by the international postal network.

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

How Dragon Courier ships caudex plants from Thailand

Dragon Courier ships live plants from Thailand to the USA on its own Delivery Duty Paid plant service. On this service the customer needs no import permit. We provide the phytosanitary certificate and CITES documents free for the USA. We can send CITES plants to major markets such as the USA. For other markets, contact our team.

We have an import permit for each market, please contact our team for a copy of the plants on our permit. Ask before booking, because the permit lists plants by name. Plants go bare root with new sphagnum moss. Each plant has different requirements, we recommend the plant seller packs it. The van has air conditioning made for plants, temperature control door to door. Fumigation is on request, and the shipper approves the cost.

No insurance for live plants. The plant rate has a declared value limit of USD 1,000 per shipment to USA. The shipper alone is responsible for declaration, value, compliance.

Source: Dragon Plant Export Rate, valid 10 June 2026, Delivery Duty Paid Live Plant Service.

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

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

About Dragon Courier

Dragon Courier is a family owned courier in Thailand with more than 30 years in logistics. We send more than 20,000 packages a month to over 200 destinations.

Contacts and drop-off

Please contact our team with plant names, the weight and dimensions of the box, and the destination country. Call the office on +66 2656 9019 or message Justin on LINE or WhatsApp +66 6-5937-0812. Email info@dragoncourier.com.

Our Bangkok office is on Sukhumvit Soi 4, 217/3 Crystal Garden Building, 3rd floor, Klongtoey 10110. Drop off until 5pm Monday to Saturday. Pickup at a time and date that suits you.

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