Beautiful but dangerous: why not bring a plant from your vacation?

By: STA Date: 2025. 07. 10. 10:30

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa poses a serious threat to Hungary’s flora, which can easily be brought into our country even with a sprout brought home from a vacation abroad. The pathogen attacks popular ornamental plants and fruit-bearing species such as grapes, olive trees, oleander and lavender. Already infected host plants are found in countries that are popular vacation destinations, such as France, Italy, Spain or the United States of America. Prevention is our shared responsibility! Even a single asymptomatic plant can be enough to introduce and spread the infection, which is why the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) strongly urges that no one bring plants home from abroad.

(Photo: Pixabay)

During the summer, when many people travel to Mediterranean countries – such as France, southern Italy or Spain – it is particularly important that travellers do not bring plants, shoots and seeds with them. These may include asymptomatic but infected specimens, which could trigger the spread of the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium in Hungary. The risk is particularly high in the case of citrus fruits, lavender and coffee bushes, but with the change in climate factors, the planting of olive groves is now becoming more common in Hungary. The Xylella fastidiosa bacterium species, which can be spread by more than 600 host plants, is native to the American continent, but its presence has already been confirmed in many places in Europe. Its further spread is ensured by cicadas that feed on the woody tissue of plants, of which the foamy cicada (Philaenus spumarius) is widespread throughout Europe, including Hungary.

The disease causes significant natural and economic damage

Due to the presence of the vector in Hungary, it is of utmost importance to prevent the introduction of the pathogen, the key to which is compliance with plant health regulations. Among other things, plants intended for planting – including Xylella host plants – can only be transported within the EU with a valid plant passport, while in so-called third countries a phytosanitary export certificate is also required. Laboratory testing is also mandatory for host plants at high risk. Due to the presence of Xylella fastidiosa, the import of olive trees, oleander, lavender, almonds, citrus fruits, larkspur and coffee bushes is particularly dangerous for the Hungarian flora. From a plant health perspective and within this, considering the geographical spread of the pathogen, Southern France (Corsica and Nice area, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitanie), Southern Italy (Puglia, Tuscany, Lazio), Portugal (Algarve, Lisbon, Porto) and Spain (Alicante province (Valencia), Extremadura, Madrid and Balearic Islands) are particularly risky in Europe. Outside the EU, in the case of the United States of America, Canada, China and Israel, it is crucial that plants or seeds intended for planting only arrive in accordance with the regulations.

Nébih