Can I bring my venus flytrap on a flight?

Question

Have 2 flights. One from the UK to the US and then one within the US to another part of the US. Is it allowed to bring a plant as part of my carry on baggage? If so, anything I need to take into account?

Answer 1

NO. It is illegal

Answer 2

Hugh, the odds are that your pet plant will be taken from you at U.S. Customs and destroyed. I cannot find where it is on the prohibited list, but I suggest that you not bring it. The decision, of course, is yours.

If you wish, you can access the U S Customs website and try searching for a definitive answer, but I do not have the amount of time that it will take to find it. (The web site is not user friendly. Sorry.)

Regards,

Dan

Answer 3

You need to contact the US Department of Agriculture http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome to get an official answer.  

Plant materials can carry organisms that can be harmful to the local ecosystem.  For example, you are not allowed to bring any plants, fruits or vegetables from the mainland USA to Hawaii as they could be harboring harmful bacteria, fungi, or microscopic critters that could harm Hawaii's sensitive ecosystems.

Unless the flytrap is a rare species you may be better off leaving it in the UK and purchasing a new one in the US.