International

Due to year end holidays and weather, we do not ship internationally in winter--delays are common and damage to plants more likely.  International shipping will resume in March 2025. 

We ship plants anywhere,  and can likely send you plants no matter where in the world you happen to live.  We've been shipping internationally for more than 30 years with great success, and with few problems.  Howevever, because we can never predict the actions of customs or delivery people in your country, ALL INTERNATIONAL ORDERS ARE SENT AT CUSTOMER'S RISK.  Before you place your order, it is important that you carefully read the following.  International orders must be placed via web-site, fax, or mail. We will not accept international orders via phone.  

Be aware that all international orders are sent at customer's risk.  All orders are sent with proper paperwork attached to side of box and visible in a clear envelope.  We will not ship orders without proper paperwork!  Customer is responsible for any duty or taxes and retrieving package.  We are not responsible for weather, delays or actions of customs or foreign delivery, or for customer's failure to retrieve or accept the package in a timely manner.  No refunds will be made for damage on international orders--all risk is customers.

We provide the phytosanitary documents required for all international orders.  This certificate is written by an plant inspector from the United States Department of Agriculture.  The inspector visits our shop every three weeks.  The cost of the inspection is $45 per order, and is included in the shipping and handling charges.  If you cancel the order after the submission deadline above, we will refund for the plants and postage, but you will be responsible for the cost of the phyto (phyto cost not refunded).

You provide us with import permit, if necessary. Some countries require an import permit to accompany the plants being shipped.  Check with your local authorities to see if you need an import permit.  You may mail, scan and email to us, or fax import permits and documents to us at (585) 374-6947.  Permits must have English translation for proper phyto documents to be written.

Where we have shipped

Always contact your local authorities--it is your responsibility to be aware of latest regulations and any duties or taxes that you may be required to pay!

Your country may have additional restrictions in place at any given time.  Be aware of these and place your order with this in mind.  We are not responsible for such restrictions.

Please note!  For those countries below with prohibitions on importing streptocarpus.  Though not streptocarpus, African violets (saintpaulia) have recently been reclassified a subspecies of Streptocarpus, this may cause problems in importing these plants (African violets and streptocarpus)!  Proper phyto documents can be written, but due to confusion in classification, customs officials may hold or delay shipments regardless!

• Australia.  Import papers are required, and only crowns (no roots, no soil) can be sent.  These will be held in quarantine once arriving in your country. 
• Azerbaijan.  Potted plants may be shipped.  Import permit is recommended but is not necessary for issuance of phyto documents.
• Belarus.  Potted plants may be shipped.  Import papers are not required.
• Brazil.  Import papers are required for shipment of plants.
• Carribean Countries.  Including Jamaica, Bermuda, and The Bahamas.  An import permit is necessary.  We may be able to send rooted plants (check with your local authorities!).  Barbados strongly recommends a permit but we can ship crowns (no roots or soil) without one.
• Canada.  You won't need an import permit, and we can ship plants (for British Columbia and Newfoundland only crowns can be sent from May thru early October).  Keep in mind, however, that you do live in another country!  This means that a phyto is still needed and that international shipping rates apply to you.  You may want to visit our shop....we're as little as 2 hours from the border (and can have a phyto ready for you--just let us know in advance).
• Chile.  We can ship African violets (saintpaulia).  We cannot ship streptocarpus or begonias.
• China.  An import permit is required.  All plants must be sent with no roots or soil (as crowns only).
• Columbia.  An import permit is required.  Plants can be sent if permit allows.
• Costa Rica.  An import permit is required.  Plants can be sent with permit.
• European Union countries.  No import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.  Sorry, unable to ship Hedera helix, Ficus, or Streptocarpus to the EU.  Be aware that you may be responsible for VAT, or that delivery may be delayed if required to pay VAT--we do not charge you for VAT nor do we collect this.
• Ecuador.  Permit recommended but not required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• Ethiopia.  No import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• France.  We do NOT ship to France.  In our experience, due to French customs officials, packages are held by a perishable forwarding agent and will require great additional expense by you.  See for example, www.cargologistic.fr for information.  It is very likely that shipments to France would not be successful due to French customs!
• Ghana.  Import permit recommended, but not required.  Quarantine is possible upon entry--please check with your local officials.
• Honduras.  Import permit suggested, but not required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• Hong Kong.  An import permit is required.  All plants must be sent with no roots or soil (as crowns only).
• India.  An import permit is required!
• Indonesia.  Import permit suggested but not required.  Rooted plants can te shipped.
• Iran.  Unfortunately, shipment of plants into your country is not possible.
• Israel.  An import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped with permit.
• Japan.  You won't need an import permit, and rooted plants can be shipped.  Due to regulations, we are unable to ship Streptocarpus or columnea to Japan (see warning above).
• Kenya.  An import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped with permit.
• Korea (Republic of).  No import permit needed.  Plants sent with no roots or soil (crowns).  We are unable  to ship streptocarpus to Korea (see warning above).
• Kuwait.  No import permit needed and no restrictions.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• Macao.  No import permit needed and no restrictions.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• Malawi.   No import permit needed.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• ​Martinique.  No import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• Maylaysia.  Import permit is highly recommended.  Rooted plants can be shipped.  Need to know nearest airport (port of entry).
• Mexico.  An import permit is required.  All plants must be sent with no roots or soil (as crowns only).  To acquire a permit, contact Dr. Javier Trujillo at (55)5090-3000, exts. 51318 & 51319. 
• Micronesia.  Plants can be shipped, but an import permit is required.
• New Caledonia.  Import permit required.  Due to terms of permit, only crowns can be shipped.
• Papua New Guinea.  Plants can be shipped.  Though suggested, no import permit is required.
• Pakistan.  An import permit is required.  Potted plants can be shipped.
• Peru.  An import permit is required.  We will ship plant material as the permit allows.
• Phillipines.  An import permit is required.
• Russia and former members of Soviet Republic.  An import permit is required.  All plants must be sent with no roots or soil (as crowns only).
• Saudi Arabia.  No permit needed.  Only crowns (no roots, no soil) can be shipped.
• Seychelles Islands.  An import permit is not required.  Plants sent with no roots or soil (crowns).
• Singapore.  Import permit recommended, but not necessary--we have shipped many times without one.  If no permit, phyto can be written, but will state "no permit presented"--this may or may not cause delays in your country's customs.  Only crowns (no roots, no soil) can be shipped.
• South Africa.  An import permit is required, and rooted plants may be sent.
• South Korea.  An import permit is not required.  All plants must be sent with no roots or soil (as crowns only).  Due to difficulties with Korean customs, will no longer ship Streptocarpus.
• Spain.  Plants can be shipped.  No import permit is required.  May be subject to VAT taxes upon arrival at customs (for more information, click here).  It is YOUR responsibility to pay all VAT taxes and retrieve package from customs!
• Sri Lanka.  Import permit is recommended, but not necessary.  
• Switzerland.  Though not member of European union, same conditions apply.  We can send potted plants, with phyto.
• Syria.  Plants sent with no root or soil (crowns) with no import permit.  Rooted plants with soil can be shipped with permit.
• Taiwan.  An import permit is required, with English translation.  Without permit our plant inspector is not able to write phyto containing proper declarations.
• Tajikistan.  An import permit is recommended, but is not required, and rooted plants can be shipped.
• Thailand.  An import permit is recommended, but is not required, and rooted plants can be shipped.
• Turkey.  No import permit is required.  All plants must be sent with no roots or soil (as crowns only).
• United Arab Emirates (UAE).  No import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.
• United Kingdom.   No import permit is required.  Rooted plants can be shipped.  Sorry, no longer able to ship Streptocarpus or Hedera helix due to UK regulations.  Note:  As of Jan 2021, (due to Brexit) shipments may require VAT and be delayed in customs for this reason.  Regulations are evolving concerning this--you (the recipient) are responsible for any VAT, and bear the risk of any delays in customs.
• Viet Nam.  No import permit is required.  Rooted plants may be shipped, though it is advisable to ship plants with no roots or soil (crowns).
• Zambia.  An import permit is recommended, but is not required, and rooted plants can be shipped.

All other countries.  We ship to many more places than those listed above.  Please contact your local authorities to see if import permits are needed and how plants must be shipped

We cannot be responsible for the delivery and customs of other countries, ALL INTERNATIONAL ORDERS MUST BE SENT AT CUSTOMER'S RISK!  What is risk?  About 5% of orders will be returned to us due to problems with customs or delivery or with significant damage due to weather or improper handling.  All orders are sent with proper documents according to current published regulations.  Most plants can safely remain in box for 2-3 weeks, but we cannot be responsible for damage caused by delays or weather.

How plants are shipped

Our plant inspector visits every 3 weeks.  We will inform you of shipping date when we receive your order.  Your account will be charged 7-10 days before the shipping date, when we must submit phyto application, just prior to our inspector's visit. 

To most countries we are usually able to ship plants as we would to our domestic customers, meaning in pots, with soil (we use a "sterile, soil-less" medium). 

If an import permit is required, we ship as the permit requires.  Sometimes this means that they are allowed to be shipped in pots and "soil".  Many times, this means that only the "crowns" of the plant can be shipped.  The plant crown is the top of the plant with the soil and root system removed.  It is sent in a plastic bag.  You will need to re-root these crowns when you receive them.

Special chemical treatments of plants.  We do not routinely treat any of our plants with insecticides or fungicides.  This is too costly and needlessly exposes us and our employees to toxic chemicals.  If import permit requires such special chemical treatment of plants, our plant inspector might not write the phyto certificate.

Shipping method and when you will receive your order.

All  International and Canadian customers.  All international orders are shipped by International Express Mail and will usually arrive in your country about 3 working days after we ship them.  We will provide the post-office tracking number to you (by e-mail only) when order is shipped.  We can ship only by USPS international express mail.

Invoices and shipping lists will be packed with your order!  You may or may not be subject to duties or import taxes on your purchases--we will not include invoices with false information.  All documents will be attached to the side of the box in clear envelope.  If you do not want documents sent this way, you must tell us.  You are responsible for any duties, fees, or taxes that your country may or may not impose upon receipt of package.