Encanto Farms Nursery > Categories > Shipping Fig Tree to Hawaii

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cyberfarmer

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Posts: 544

I have a sister in Hawaii who grew up with the same fig tree I did, and misses the fruit as much as I do. I made some cuttings from that tree this year and would like to send her a small tree. I've found some forms regarding plant importation (http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/forms/), but I'm not sure which form I should use. I've also heard that the plants need to be fumigated (with what?) and certified (by whom?), and can't include any soil. I'm hoping someone here has experience sending live trees - especially figs - to Hawaii.
 
My smallest tree is in a 3 1/2 gallon pot with a 2 1/2 foot whip. It has a very small side branch that protrudes no wider than the root ball itself. The caliper at the base is 3/4 inch. It currently has no leaves. Because of the soil restrictions, I was thinking of shipping it in a sterile medium such as perlite and/or vermiculite.
 
If this is going to be outrageously expensive, or if the plant is not likely to survive the journey, I might just wait until the tree is big enough for cuttings and send her those. Her husband is pretty handy with plants and trees and I'm sure he could grow cuttings if I can. Was just hoping to save the cuttings to share with you fine folks.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing your experience and advice.
pitangadiego

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Posts: 5,447

Last time I checked, the person in Hawaii needed an import permit, and the tree would b e in quarantine (at your expense) for 2 years.
cyberfarmer

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Posts: 544

OMG! Are cuttings any easier?
snaglpus

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Jon's correct.  Hawaii has tough arg laws.  SHe's better off contacting the Hawaii fruit growers association and synch up with someone there for a good fig tree.
cyberfarmer

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Posts: 544

[QUOTE=snaglpus]....  SHe's better off contacting the Hawaii fruit growers association and synch up with someone there for a good fig tree.[/QUOTE]

She doesn't want a fig tree. She wants our family fig tree.
hungryjack

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Posts: 518

[QUOTE=cyberfarmer]OMG! Are cuttings any easier?

[/QUOTE]

Cutting is the same as a plant to Hawaii AG

http://www.nationalplantboard.org/docs/summaries/hawaii.pdf

Forget about shipping anything with any soil
or potting material.
cyberfarmer

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Posts: 544

I knew you guys wouldn't let me down. What a great community. I sent an email to plantimport.com to see if they can help. I'll leave it up to my sister to decide if she wants to pay whatever fees they charge to handle the process. Thanks everyone.
HarveyC

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Posts: 3,294

A friend of mine moved from California to Hawaii two years ago.  He said right up front that he was taking his huge plant collection with him and I was sure he was going to have some painful surprises.  I think he took something like 500-1,000 potted plants.  I know he said he obtained an import permit and I believe there was some inspection upon arrival, but there was nothing held in quarantine.  I don't know the details, but maybe you'll have a pleasant surprise as well when they reply back.

Ken Love in Kona imported a lot of fig cuttings from Davis about five years ago and those cuttings were also distributed to other growers for trials without being held in quarantine.  The growing conditions there are very favorable and crops were harvested pretty quickly.  Brown Turkey is considered the best fig by Ken and most growers in the project.  Go figure!
gorgi

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Posts: 2,864

Balmy Hawaii is extremely tough on all agriculture/wild-life stuff!
Wonder how (cold) Alaska compares to it...

There is a good fig person [KL] experimenting with figs in Kona, HI.
[Way back; I almost visited him, just happened to be on the wrong island.]
http://www.hawaiifruit.net/index-figs.html