Bring plants back to US...help

I will be going to China and to Italy this summer. Can someone tell me how to bring plants back to the US ? And what type of hard to find plants or seeds should I look for ?

Import of seeds is mostly permitted, green plants are generally not permitted.

Resin

You can have a problem even with importing seeds to the US, but there is a way to do it if you were worried about them being confiscated. You can apply for a seed import license, which usually entails the seller listing the seeds, customs check them, then they are sent on to you. I think you have also to provide the authorities with a list, but that would be very difficult if you were just wanting to pick seeds up here and there.

http://theseedsite.co.uk/aphis.html

Other than that, you take the risk of getting them and having them confiscated. Tip: a plastic covering will deter the scent. You could also send a few packets in an envelope (with a greetings card) to yourself, with some thin foam either side of the seeds (tape edges and packets in place) .

Bulbs are allowed if you import no more that 12 bulbs, again you can apply for a permit but I need to find the link for that. I would suggest if you really wanted to do this in different countries you would be best sending them by post to yourself, as long as the bulbs are not obviously contaminated and you have your permit they would be checked against the database then sent on to you. I don't know if there is a limit on the number of packages you could have sent to yourself in a certain time, the web site with the information will be the best place to find that out.

Alternatively, you can pack up the bulbs, wrapped well in bubble wrap and send yourself some 'ornaments'.

From China I would definitely be on the lookout for Arisaema and Lilium species, also other Aroids if you are interested in them.

There are valid reasons for not wanting to move plants and other materials from one country to another. If they are plants already available in your country then you wouldn't need to be getting them right?

There are genuine sellers in these countries, and reputable sellers in other countries import from them. As the general market isn't geared to sell these items, they are rarely available as some bulbs require to be sold in a more or less fresh state. This does not suit the general bulb seller.

There are also well monitored programmes for growing rarer bulbs in Asia, in order to preserve these and to provide employment. This is one of them,

http://www.natureproducts.net/Forest_Products/Ornamentals/crinum.html

I haven't found the Bulb Import doc., but it should be on this site somewhere,

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/pim/exports/faqs.html

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_exports/faqs.shtml

I'll try mailing them to my self and see what happens.Just something about finding the seeds and plants yourself that makes it fun.Wallaby1 there are some very intersting plants on [HYPERLINK@www.natureproducts.net]...thanks