The late 19th Century set the stage for the blossoming of a national love affair with native plants. From the Victorian passion for the outdoors and the birth of the field guide, to the environmental movement and the blossoming of modern native plant nurseries, native plants have become integral to horticulture and design in America. In the new millennium, invasive exotic species, habitat destruction, global warming and xenophobia are a few of the issues still germane after three centuries of promoting and employing North America’s diverse and beautiful flora.