Flowers purchased from abroad for Mother’s Day were hastily checked by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists—trained experts in U.S. import violations—at Los Angeles International Airport to ensure they were delivered in time for the holiday, reported the agency.

According to a May 10 press release, 80 percent of cut flowers sold in the U.S. are brought in from outside the country. The flowers they inspected are specifically from South America, Netherlands, Thailand, and Austria.

The top three most common flowers imported are roses, tulips, and orchids, said the border protection agency.

Agents checked to be sure the flowers were free of invasive pests and diseases that could harm the U.S. agricultural industry and economy.

A U. S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist at Los Angeles International Airport inspects a dianthus bouquet arriving from Ecuador. (Courtesy of U. S. Customs and Border Protection)

“Some of these flowers may carry hitchhiking pests and diseases that could cause millions of dollars in damage to the U.S. agriculture sector,” said Carlos C. Martel, border patrol director of field operations in Los Angeles in a statement.

The border agency said the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day are the busiest of the year for flower imports—more than 36 million cut stems were brought in through the airport and processed for the holiday last year.

Amid the millions of flowers, specialists reported they found and intercepted 358 invasive pests—the most common being aphids, thrips, moths, miner flies, and mites—on shipments from abroad last year.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, invasive species can affect the U.S. economy, environment, and human health.

A U. S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist at Los Angeles International Airport inspects imported Mother’s Day cut flowers. (Courtesy of U. S. Customs and Border Protection)

Native species precious to the U.S. can also be threatened by invasive outside pests who compete for resources and often alter habitats and weaken native plants and animals. New diseases also threaten human, plant, and animal life.

A study by the agriculture department in 2021 found North America has lost over $26 billion yearly since 2010 because of the impacts of invasive species. The impact has risen significantly since measuring at $2 billion per year in the 1960s.

Residents are encouraged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to declare all flowers and plant materials bought from abroad for the holidays to avoid penalties for violating import laws and harming the economy and well-being of the U.S.