Protecting Native Plants: How to Stop Illegal Harvesting in the Southwest

The theft of native plants from public and private lands remains a persistent issue across the Southwest. Many species of cacti and other desert plants fetch high prices from collectors seeking prize specimens, while homeowners often unknowingly purchase stolen plants for their landscapes.

Plant poaching is especially prevalent in Arizona. To combat this, the Arizona Department of Agriculture has implemented a tagging system requiring anyone who intends to move and sell a protected plant to obtain a permit and a plant tag from the state. The tag, secured with a metal seal, is attached to the plant and can only be legally removed by the buyer. Each tag bears a unique permit number for traceability.

When buying a protected plant, confirm it was nursery-propagated. If it was collected from the wild, ensure it carries an Arizona Department of Agriculture tag. Always request a receipt from the seller as proof of legal purchase.

More than 300 plants appear on Arizona's list of protected natives. For a copy of the list or to verify a plant permit number, call the Arizona Department of Agriculture at (602) 542-4499.