There are many reasons to be concerned about the use of non-native species or non-local genetic material in restoration efforts. An overview of these issues is presented. It is argued that site restoration is more than just successful vascular plant establishment, and that local plant material should be used whenever possible. However, it is recognized that time and money often constrain restoration efforts, and that maintenance of genetic integrity is often an issue of project scale. Published in Wildland Shrub and Arid Land Restoration Symposium, on pages 265 - 266, in 1993.