Buist, Robert–(1805-1880)–Philadelphia, Pennsylvania–was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, November 14, 1805.  He was trained at the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens and came to America in August 1828.  He was employed by D. Landreth, and then took employment with Henry Pratt who owned Lemon Hill probably one of the finest gardens in the U.S. at the time.   He formed a partnership with Thomas Hibbert in 1830 in a florist business in Philadelphia.  They imported rare plants and flowers, especially the rose.  After Hibbert’s death he began a seed business, along with the nursery and greenhouse business called the Robert Buist Company.  He later turned the seed business over to his son Robert.   Buist was know for his roses and verbena and credited with introducing the poinsettia to the United States.  He was the author of The American Flower-Garden Directory (1832); The Rose Manual (1844); and The Family Kitchen-Gardener (c1847).  He was active with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, treasurer from 1858-1862 and vice-president for twenty-two years.  He died in Philadelphia, July 13, 1880.
Sources:  GM-Dec. 1880; MHS; Plants; Woodburn2; Bailey; PHS2; PHS1; CHSJ-Apr. 1966; Leighton2; SW1; GT; Hedrick.