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HSChapter 12
U.S. imports of flower and herbaceous plant seeds for sowing (HS 120930) totaled $7.3M in July 2026, traded with 44 countries.
Importers of Flower and Herbaceous Plant Seeds for Sowing paid $573K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 8.7% on $6.6M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Flower and Herbaceous Plant Seeds for Sowing imports of $7.3M in July 2026 ran 21% above the year-to-date monthly average of $6.0M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataSeeds of herbaceous plants grown principally for their flowers — including petunia (1209300010) and pansy (1209300020) seeds, plus a broad NESOI category — serve the ornamental horticulture industry and are among the higher-value seed categories by weight. The Netherlands dominates global flower seed production and is the leading US supplier under this heading, reflecting its role as the center of commercial flower breeding and seed multiplication. USDA APHIS phytosanitary inspection applies at entry, and many flower seed varieties are protected by plant variety protection certificates or utility patents, making intellectual property compliance an additional concern for importers.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
308 shipments/mo
Yes. Many commercial flower seed varieties — particularly F1 hybrids — are protected under the Plant Variety Protection Act or utility patents held by major seed companies. Importing protected varieties without authorization from the rights holder can constitute infringement regardless of whether the seed clears CBP and APHIS inspection. Importers should verify intellectual property status with the variety owner before sourcing, especially for named cultivars from the Netherlands and other major breeding centers.
USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine is responsible for phytosanitary inspection of imported flower seeds. Key risks include seed-borne pathogens such as Fusarium and Botrytis species, as well as regulated pests that may accompany seed lots. A phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's national plant protection organization is required, and APHIS may impose additional treatment or testing requirements for certain origins or species. Admissibility is complex; consult a licensed customs broker or APHIS for current requirements.
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Subheading 2 of 10 in heading 1209
Subheading 120930 · $7.3M of $49.2M
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1209300090 | Seeds Herb Plants Prncply Flowers, For Sowng,NESOI | $7.2M | 7.82% | 90.37% | $564K |
| 1209300010 | Petunia Seeds for Sowing | $84K | 10.00% | 100.00% | $8K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1209300080 | Seeds Herb Plants Prncply Flowers,for Sowng,NESOI | $3.0M |
| 1209300010 | Petunia Seeds for Sowing | $664K |
| 1209300020 | Pansy Seeds for Sowing | $366K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
ImportsExports
Imports
$7.3MYoY · Pro
Exports
$4.0MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Guatemala and Netherlands together supply 43% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
9.5% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 7.84%.