Thai Plumeria to the USA: Cuttings, Rooted Plants and Seeds, and the Papers Each One Needs

Can plumeria cuttings from Thailand be shipped to the USA?

Yes. USDA APHIS has Plumeria on their generally admissible woody plants for planting list. Thailand is not on the potato cyst nematode infested country list. Cuttings, bare-root plants and seeds are all covered.

Plumeria is not on any NAPPRA list. NAPPRA is the list of plants APHIS holds back for a pest risk assessment.

Rust on the plumeria is not a reason to stop a box. Rust is already in Thailand and in Florida, Hawaii, California, Louisiana, Puerto Rico. California has rated plumeria rust as C, not a quarantine pest. Thai plumeria hybrids sold to US collectors as cuttings are treated like any other woody plant under Plants for Planting.

Most plants and seeds for planting require a PPQ 587 permit.

Source: Buying plants and seeds online, USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

Cutting, rooted plant or seed: which form should you order?

Depends what you want: unrooted cutting (no soil, light, less duty than rooted plants), rooted plant (bare root, no soil), or seed (cheapest but grows a new plant not a copy of the named hybrid).

Stem cuttings without branches (canes), leaves, roots, or sprouts are admissible if they show 4 inches (102 mm) or less in diameter and 6 feet (1.83 meters) or less in total length.

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

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

Does a box of 12 or fewer cuttings need a USDA permit?

No. APHIS allows the shipment of 12 or fewer plants for planting in without a permit. Plumeria has no specific restrictions. Phytosanitary Certificate still required. Cutting counts as a plant.

Shipments of 12 or fewer plants for planting do not require a permit or a Green and Yellow Label (PPQ 508). The commodities can be shipped directly to the importer through any port of entry and need not go through a Plant Inspection Station.

Source: Plants for Planting Manual reference document, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

For 13 or more cuttings the buyer needs a PPQ 587 import permit. Apply at least 30 days before the plants arrive. APHIS review can take up to 2 months. Plants will be labeled green & yellow and presented to USDA Plant Inspection station in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston or Jamaica JFK. Only this address is permitted on the outside of the box.

Only U.S. residents may apply for an import permit.

Source: Buying plants and seeds online, USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

Plumeria seed has its own permit, small lots of seed. Up to 50 packets per shipment, each up to 50 seeds or 10 grams of one taxon. They must be sealed and labeled with the sender, country of origin, and scientific name. They will go through the Plant Inspection Station. A phytosanitary certificate is not required under this permit.

What must the phytosanitary certificate say for Thai hybrids?

The certificate must state the genus Plumeria. APHIS strongly prefers the species or cultivar. Hybrids should be written as hybrid or hybr. Issued no more than 15 days before the box ships, by the Thailand Department of Agriculture.

No soil goes in the box. Each plant is wrapped in new sphagnum moss, which is on the USDA’s approved packing list. Invoice or packing list must include the scientific name of each plant and its quantity.

One mistake costs whole box. Please make sure no plant in the box is on the NAPPRA list for Thailand. A mixed order can include Catharanthus (Madagascar Periwinkle), Vinca and Carissa. All three are on the NAPPRA host list.

The entire container will be refused entry based on the more restrictive not authorized (NAPPRA) status.

Source: Plants for Planting Manual reference document, Commingling, USDA APHIS ACIR, acir.aphis.usda.gov.

Guide: phytosanitary certificate in Thailand

What does plumeria pay at US customs?

An unrooted cutting pays 4.8 percent under HTS 0602.10.00 and is exempt from the 12.5 percent Section 301 tariff on products of Thailand. Rooted plants are 4.8 percent plus 12.5 percent. Seeds are duty free.

The 12.5% Section 301 tariff is valid from 24th July 2026. It is not applicable for line 0602.10.00 which is on the exclusions list noted in U.S. note 52(b).

There is no longer an exemption for small packages. Since August 29th 2025 all courier packages to USA must go through formal or informal customs clearance. CBP made the suspension indefinite on June 24th 2026.

The duty-free de minimis exemption provided under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) shall no longer apply to any shipment of articles not covered by 50 U.S.C. 1702(b), regardless of value, country of origin, mode of transportation, or method of entry.

Source: Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries, Executive Order of July 2025, whitehouse.gov.

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

Can you bring plumeria cuttings home in your luggage?

Yes, you can bring up to 12 bare-root plants in your luggage from Thailand. No soil is allowed and they must have a phytosanitary certificate. Please declare the plants on arrival. Seeds are different.

Seeds from trees and shrubs are prohibited in passenger baggage.

Source: International travelers, plants and plant parts, USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

If there are 13 or more plants they cannot be hand carried, APHIS asks for an import permit and the plants are mailed or shipped. Plants will be inspected at the Plant Inspection Station.

How Dragon Courier ships plumeria to the USA

Dragon Courier sends live plants Thailand to USA on our own Delivery Duty Paid plant service. The customer needs no import permit and we provide the phytosanitary certificate free of charge for USA.

We have an import permit for each market. Contact our team for a copy of the plants on our permit. We will take care of all customs clearance.

Plants go bare root with new sphagnum moss, on the fastest flight and courier labels. We provide door to door temperature control. Each plant is different, we recommend the plant sellers pack it.

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

To the USA 2 to 5 working days. For Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico 3 to 5 working days. If held for inspection we work with USDA and the plant sellers in Thailand to get release urgently.

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

About Dragon Courier

Dragon Courier is a family owned business that has been in Thailand for more than 30 years. We send more than 20,000 packages per month to over 200 destinations. We send live plants door to door by air. All customs clearance and any duty or tax included in our price.

Contacts and drop-off

We need the plant names, number of plants, weight and destination country to provide a shipping cost. Call the office +66 2656 9019 or message Justin on LINE or WhatsApp +66 6-5937-0812 or email info@dragoncourier.com. Thank you.

We are located in Sukhumvit soi 4 (217/3 crystal garden building 3rd floor Klongtoey 10110). Drop off until 5pm please Monday to Saturday. Pickup for a date and time that suits.

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