Wild plants belong in the wild. Taking plants from the wild threatens the ecosystem, and destroys the natural beauty that should be available to all. Some of our loveliest plants are now rare because they were collected for garden use. The Connecticut Botanical Society condemns removing wild plants for gardening or for commercial purposes. For nearly any native plant that makes a good garden plant, there is a commercial source of nursery-propagated plants.
Ethical vendors are generally happy to describe their methods in detail.
Native plants have become much more readily available. Any garden center will carry some of the popular native plants. Several of Connecticut's nurseries maintain a large selection of natives. If you can't find your plant locally, try mail-order nurseries. A list of native plant vendors is available from the Virginia Native Plant Society and from the Native Plant Society of New Jersey .