There are allowed and not allowed depending on the types of insects and diseases that they potentially carry. Most of the fresh flowers sold in the airport shops are OK, but plants and things that go in or contain soil can have some nasty stuff and not be allowed. Orchids and plants may need a phytosanitary certificate when coming from other countries (and a CITES certif. if importing some orchids). Some Hawaiian growers say that you need to buy from them (rather than roadside stands or discount stores) because they have the certification, but actually orchids do not use soil, so the Ag screeners there have told me that they are not a problem. It also helps that I live in Minnesota and travel to Hawaii in December, when no soil borne nematodes are willing to live.

Also, as far as fresh flowers are concerned, for years I never bought them in AMS because I was concerned about them being out of water for so long. I learned that when they are shipped here, they are also out of water, so it really isn’t an issue. Recut the stems and put them in water at your destination and they will be fine.

Don’t even THINK of sneaking in something prohibited. I am an avid gardener and orchid grower, but I have never seen anything that would even come close to being worth the risk of bringing in the next Mediterranean Fruit Fly.

Terri
St. Louis Cty, MN Master Gardener