You have to have a phytosanitary certificate, stating that they're free of disease, and so on and so forth, to get them across the border. This would come from the Canadian agriculture inspectors. I work for a US nursery and we send a lot of plants to Canada, and this is how it works in reverse, anyway. Our ag inspector comes out, looks at the plants, verifies that they're free of diseases, and signs the permits. The customer then takes this paperwork to the border crossing with them, where it's inspected by the border agents. If these are something you've collected from the wild, they'd have to go into quarantine and stuff, which can take years.

Chris, I last imported in the early to mid 1980s. I obtained a new import license this year from the USDA. Things have changed DRAMATICALLY in the last 30 years! You go to the USDA site and create an account to request permission to apply for a permit. You then must travel to the closest field office to show your government issue photo ID to your State Ag Agent who will verify your identity for the USDA. Once he/she clicks the little box on your application on line, you may then apply for an import permit. Your County Ag Agent will schedule an appointment to verify you have the officially required room for the roses to be held in quarantine. Depending upon what your state has imposed for fees, this can vary greatly in cost. I'm in California. Due to the distance the agent has to travel from her office to my residence, each inspection would cost me $80. There could be two a year, for two years, unless something causes the agent to feel they require longer with more inspections. If the agent feels all is sufficiently well, he/she may release them earlier. Once you have the permit and labels, you arrange with the shipping nursery for the roses. Each point of origin counts as one importation. If you are bringing in plants from multiple countries, each one requires its own quarantine area. Each area must be a minimum of ten feet from ANYTHING in the Genus Rosa, including the other batches of imports from other sources. The room adds up. Once upon a time, the system worked that you ordered the roses, they were shipped and the carrier delivered them to the USDA at the most local import entry station. They inspected, treated and forwarded them to you quickly and efficiently. All of that has changed. IF you are fortunate to live near a low security entry point with lower traffic, you may be permitted to walk your own order through customs. In that case, be prepared to pay several hundred dollars (no joke) in inspection and customs fees PER ORDER. If, like I do, you live near a very congested, high traffic and high security entry point, you will not be permitted to walk them through, but must, instead, hire a USDA agent at over time rates to walk your order through the system or it will not be processed. My entry point is LAX. There is no way they will permit anyone to walk through their system. The total fees can easily amount to about $1,000 PER ORDER, plus the cost of the plants, plus the shipping, plus the cost of inspections once delivered... Now, don't expect to receive the standard budded plant you are used to from any imports. The new rules, due to the fear of spreading the Chinese Long Snout Beetle, restrict any material being imported to 10 mm or thinner, INCLUDING the bud union. Less than one-third of an inch thick bud union? I have never encountered a budded rose from any source that thin. Imagine trying to successfully bring in such as thin, fragile plant and get it to break dormancy. You're pretty much restricted to bud wood to be propagated once delivered, unless you can find an overseas nursery willing to try cooperating with these restrictions. I've attached scans of my import restrictions below from my Flickr account. They will tell you all you will need to submit to and cooperate with. Click on them to enlarge them for easier reading. IMO, it has become far too expensive a proposition for my "hobby" to import roses (or any other material). Notice also, the fines for smuggling can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Not that they WILL be, but CAN be. Still interested? Kim Here is a link that might be useful: USDA Import restrictions

When we moved to Nevada from Minnesota ten years ago, one of the first roses I planted was Jeanne Lajoie. I can not tell you how wonderful these climbers are and how stalwart and beautiful they are year after year. They are the perfect size, in my opinion, for a climber--they are fairly upright all on their own and have nice foliage. Since miniature roses are even hardier than traditional roses, they withstand the intense heat here, and I know they are grown in Canada. I got mine from Nor'east in tiny 4" containers--but they grew 3-4 feet the first season and their "permanent" height is about 6-7'. Very easily kept to any desired height and shape. Jeanne Lajoie Sima. Climber. Beautiful, well-formed, pointed buds and double flowers of medium pink, with a darker reverse. Vigorous branched growth, profuse bloom. Tall canes can be anchored to a fence or to the ground for a fountainous effect. More bloom than you could believe possible in a mini! Ht. 7 - 10 ft. 1977 Award of Excellence. Here is a link that might be useful: Nor'east

Hi Pelican Dave here in Toronto. Bottom line - purchasing stuff in the U.S.A. is often EASIER than in Canada. You often get better service in the U.S.A. We purchased our top of the line Subaru Outback from Van Bortel in N.Y. last summer and paid only $USD 30,500 (just had to email for a quote - that's it) all options and freight in, vs $CAD 48,000 best quote in Canada. Only additional cost - $190 + GST for the federal import fee - that's it. No Canadian dealer style B.S. of attempting to further pad the sale with glass etching fees - or worse "administration fees" for their sub-par service. Of course we paid Canadian (PST/GST/$100 AC) taxes to register it (but never paid any US taxes). Now that we are literally building a new home within our old home's 105 double brick exterior walls (totally gutted the interior - even gutted the studs, joists, etc), we're in the market for all new appliances, bathroom fixtures etc. Canadian dealers and distributors can go F*** themselves as far as I am concerned - and put that arrogant disservice attittude right in their ...... but I digress :-) You will pay no duty on any appliance manufactured in USA/Canada/Mexico, otherwise, as I understand it, duty is limited to 6.1%, since Canada is part of the World Trade Organisation. GST is collected at the border, and is calculated on top of the duty. Legally you are supposed to voluntarily declare your purchase to the provincial government and pay P.S.T. as well - as if you would - LOL. P.S.T. is not applicable to any energy star rated appliance in Ontario anyways. I plan to do the same for our bathroom fixtures. If you thought appliance fixtures were a rip off in Canada, check the Canada / US price differences on sinks, toilets, tubs, etc - often up to double the price in the U.S.A. Too many stupid, compliant, lazy Canadians, make for continued windfall profits for greedy, sleazy Canadian distributors, and their compliant, wimpy dealers. If only more dealers were like Walmart Canada, who temporarily pulled all Lego products off the shelves, until Lego cried Uncle, and agreed to sell their products here at the same price as in the U.S.A.