Plant collectors are often botanists or other experts who spend weeks or months in remote areas of the world in search of new plants. For decades the best hunting ground for plant collectors has been Asia, a continent fertile with such prize finds as azaleas, astilbes, chrysanthemums, peonies, forsythias and Japanese maples. The Mediterranean region has also produced a number of notables, as have Mexico and North Africa. In the United States some choice finds have included new varieties of roses, laurels, dogwoods, apples and other fruits and a host of wildflowers.
When a collector discovers a potentially new and exciting plant, he digs up the plant or removes its seeds, then returns home to propagate it. The plant is then grown in a trial garden to determine whether it is something the public would appreciate. Sadly, there aren't as many plant collectors these days because most new plant varieties are developed through various breeding practices such as hybridization. Unfortunately, a lot of otherwise well-meaning gardeners act as amateur plant collectors, taking plants from the wild while on vacation or on a hike through the woods. As a result native populations of certain plants, especially wildflowers, have become extinct. Consequently, although it's important to remember the professionals who have crossed continents in search of new plants, it's also vital to avoid collecting plants from the wild.
