Until recently, almost nothing was known about the origin of flowers.

Flowers hold a special place in the plant world, as they do in the human heart. There are between 220,000 to more than 400,000 different flowering species on earth. They dominate gardens and landscapes, and provide many food staples. Yet until recently, almost nothing was known about their origin; Charles Darwin called it "an abominable mystery." In the search for answers, NOVA takes viewers on a spectacular journey of discovery to a remote mountain region of China, to explore our fascination with flowers and solve the puzzle of their beginnings.