CA ordering - CA shipping - Saving Tips for CA orders
We are certified to ship to CA, however due to the fact that CA state import regulations recently became more complicated and made processing shipping to CA very costly,
certain restrictions apply.
Sorry, California Country rules, not ours!
1) Phyto certificate is required for shipping live plants to California (in addition to our annual nematode certification).
$40 handling fee automatically added to all CA orders, including orders that are qualified for FREE shipping: for additional processing (special plant treatments) and a phyto certificate.
2) Certification
Certain plants that are NOT certified for shipping to CA are marked so in the price-list.
Nursery Nematode Certification is done once a year (in Fall) and we can not add other species to that list until next year.
Some species (like palm trees, peaches, persimmons, apples etc) are in CA no-ship (prohibited) list and can not be shipped to CA addresses.
3) Flowers and fruit will be cut
- off the plants traveling to CA addresses due to CA state agricultural import requirements.
This means, your gardenias and jasmines will have no flowers on them, and mangoes have no frut when arrive, even if the plant is advertised as in bloom/fruit.
4) Leaves removed
-
on some plants, partially or even completely.
This is due to new requirements of CA department of arguculture.
Any leaf with a spot or dot (including those naturaly occured colorations due to sun/weather conditions) can not enter the territory of the Country of California.
All our plants shipped to CA, are 100% free of pests. However we've had a bad experience when even sun-burned leaves became a reason why the whole shipment was destroyed by CA department of AG.
5) Processing time for CA orders is longer
-
than for orders going to other states.
This additional time is required for preparing plants for shipping (additional treatments and quarantine).
Cut of day is Friday 5 pm for shipping CA orders on the following Tuesday (Monday is phyto certification day).
This means, if you placed your order on Saturday to CA address, it may wait for another week to be shipped out.
Shipping Methods
We attempt to provide the most economical rate depending on your location using following services:
- UPS or FedEx 3 day Express
-
UPS or FedEx Ground for 7 gal size containers and other large plants
- USPS Express Mail - Expedited Shipping. Occasionally, orders will need to be shipped via expedited service depending on plant sensitivity or customer request. Please notify us of any rush prior to shipment.
Timing
Please note that due to special import regulations for State of California, processing time for CA orders is longer than for orders going to other states.
This additional time is required for preparing plants for shipping (additional treatments and quarantine).
Cut of day is Friday 5 pm for shipping CA orders on the following Tuesday (Monday is phyto certification day).
This means, if you placed your order on Saturday to CA address, it may wait for another week to be shipped out.
To meet discounted shipping requirements, and to save on S&H+phyto cost:
1. One large order vs several small orders.
If you are planning to buy several plants this season, try to combine items and place one large order instead of several small orders.
2. Invite friends and combine orders.
Ask you fellow gardeners if they have any tropical plant needs.
3. Order all necessary supplies
Order soil, fertilizers, plant boosters, etc - at the same time when you order plants. They will add to order cost to meet the minimum, while they have FREE shipping!
Those supplies will be shipped separately by Ground services and won't be included in phyto.