每日吃瓜

Hello!
I’m considering a move to Europe (Portugal? Spain?) in the future, and the bonsai might be a factor. Has anyone moved trees with them from the US to Europe? I know there are USDA and the EU-equivalent concerns and I’d maybe need a phytosanitary certificate or something, maybe permits and inspections. I’m looking long term (3 years from now maybe?) but if anyone has insight about how this works I’d love to hear from
?you. Thanks!

Greenstone

You can Google "USDA classification Europe" and get a similar hardiness map as the one for USA but for Europe. In some places and for some species it is not totally accurate. Even if a tree can tolerate a specific winter temperature it does not mean it is suitable climate rest of the year. I live in western sweden that ranks as usda zone 7. There are many species native to usda zone 7 in USA that just cannot be grown here. It may be too wet part of the year, too short summer or just not warm enough in summer.

Phytosanitary certificates are issued by the seller of a plant just before export. I am not sure how to get around that for trees that has been in your possission long time before the transport.

I would think it would be easier and much cheaper to sell your trees and buy when you get to wherever it is you are moving to. Apart from the time tree trees would be in a container the quarantine and other requirements would be prohibitive. I know that when Peter Adams moved from Uk to USA he sold all of his as it was just too much hassle to try to take them, that was a long time ago and restrictions are worse now than there were.

I agree with Geoff, it might be a lot easier just sell your trees, and then buy new ones in Europe, it's stressfull and quite hard to move trees/plants between continents...

I don't know how it works exactly between US and EU, but here in Brasil it's pretty much illegal to move trees in, there are legal ways, but it's so painful and expansive that it's actually design to make you give up the idea... xD

Here's a picture of trees being apprehended two months ago in the Guarulhos Airport, and that's getting more frequent...
?
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The problem is that plants can have microorganisms that become invasive species and cause harm to native plants, particularly food crops.

If I take a seed from an apple and sprout it in pure sand and lava rock, it is probably safe but border people can't tell the history of a plant. Sometime ago, something like 25 years, a tourist smuggled a citrus tree into the US coming from China. The tree had the huanglongbin parasite and it devastated the citrus crops in California and Texas.

A lady I know traced the spread of the disease back to a particular block in Las Angeles for her PhD.?

The process for importing involves bare rooting, fumigation, and replacing the soil. I think most trees don't survive.

That import process may be valid for USA. I have several times imported plants from abroad with soil. You need a phytosanitary certificate from the source and an official from the local agriculture departement on delivery date to aprove the receivt. If they have just one tiny suspection of ill helth, disease or pests they will deny the import and send to destruction at your expence.