Shipping Christmas Wreaths and Trees

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Maine shippers should follow these plant health regulations when sending Christmas wreaths and trees. It is not necessary to obtain a Maine Nursery License to sell cut Christmas trees and wreaths, however, a nursery license is required for those selling rooted Christmas trees.

For more information on plant regulations of any state or country, contact the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Division of Animal and Plant Health at 207-287-3891 or email the Horticulture Program. 

This list is a summary of the state plant regulations found at www.nationalplantboard.org  

*Some prohibited plant material may be allowed under certain conditions.

Plant Material
Shipping to:
Conditions

General
All Plant Material All locations Clearly mark the outside of all packages with:
  • the contents (ex. 1 balsam fir wreath)
  • the statement "Grown in Maine" and the county of origin
  • the name and address of the shipper
All Plant Material All locations Plant material should be healthy and free of pests
All rooted plant material All locations State certification and nursery license required.
All trees with soil (such as small potted or B & B trees) AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, MS, MT, ND, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA Prohibited unless certified free of Japanese beetle.

Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan
All wreaths and trees European and other foreign countries except Canada Prohibited*
All wreaths and trees (cut or rooted) AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KY, KS, LA, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WY and parts of IL, IN, MN, NC, OH, VA, WI, WV Inspected and certified free of spongy moth. Contact Maine's USDA-APHIS-PPQ office at 207-848-0000 for more information
All trees (cut or rooted) Canada Certification required
All wreaths Canada Unrestricted except wreaths containing pine

Greenery
Cedar (Cedrus spp.) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga spp.) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Fir (Abies spp.including balsam fir) MI Trees, wreaths and boughs are allowed from October 15 to January 1
Fir (Abies spp.including balsam fir) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Hemlock (Tsuga spp) OH, VT, WI and parts of ME Prohibited
Hemlock (Tsuga spp) MI Trees, wreaths and boughs are allowed from October 15 to December 31
Juniper (Juniperus spp) CA Prohibited*
Juniper (Juniperus spp) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Oriental arborvitae (Biota orientalis) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Pine (Pinus spp) Canada Certfication required
Pine (Pinus spp) CA Wreaths - allowed October 31 to December 31

Trees and loose branches prohibited* Non-commercial shipments of not more than 3 trees are unrestricted.
Pine (Pinus spp) HI Allowed only from October 20 to December 31.
Pine (Pinus spp) MT Inspection and certification required
Pine (Pinus spp) NC Trees - inspection and certification required
Pine (Pinus spp) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Spruce (Picea spp.) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale
Yew (Taxus spp.) WI Inspected and certified free of elongate hemlock scale

Decorations
Chestnuts (Castanea spp.) OR, WA Prohibited*
Citrus (all species) AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, TX Prohibited*
Asiatic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) All locations Prohibited
Fruits of: apple, crabapple, hawthorn, Prunus spp, quince, pear AZ, CA, ID, OR, WA Prohibited*
Hazlenuts (Corylus spp.) OR, WA Must be free of twigs and other plant debris
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) All locations Prohibited
Persimmon (Diospyros spp.) CA, WA Prohibited*
Unhusked nuts of walnut and butternut (Juglans spp.) AZ, CA, TX Prohibited*
Unhusked nuts of pecan and hickory (Carya spp.) AZ, CA, NM, TX Prohibited*

Updated 10/2024