The first recorded sale of rose plants near Tyler
The first recorded sale of rose plants near Tyler was in 1879: the Shamburger family of Pine Springs had sold rose bushes for $1.50 as early as that year.
In 1904 B. S. Shamburger began planting 20,000 bushes per acre.
A 1975 state marker says the first known commercial rose production in the Tyler area began in the 1870s, when pioneers such as G. A. McKee and Mathew Shamburger sold rose bushes, and that A. F. Watkins introduced irrigation in 1924.
According to the Handbook of Texas, a peach blight led many Tyler-area farmers to grow roses.
Note
A 1990 marker counts Mathew and T. J. Shamburger among the first to raise roses commercially in East Texas, a first they share.
Sources
- Handbook of Texas: Rose Industrytshaonline.org
- Tyler Today magazine: Nix Roses, end of an eratylertodaymagazine.com
- Handbook of Texas: Tyler, TXtshaonline.org
- Handbook of Texas: Smith Countytshaonline.org
The Shamburger family of Pine Springs had sold rose bushes for $1.50 as early as 1879
In 1904 B. S. Shamburger began planting 20,000 bushes per acre.
- Texas Historical Commission marker: Shamburger Cemetery (Atlas 5423007755)atlas.thc.texas.gov
Mathew and T. J. were among the first to raise roses on a commercial basis in East Texas.
- Texas Historical Commission marker: Smith County Rose Industry and the Tyler Rose Garden (Atlas 5423007758)atlas.thc.texas.gov
First known commercial production began here in the 1870s when industry pioneers such as G. A. McKee and Mathew Shamburger (1827-88) sold rose bushes
Production was increased by new growing methods such as irrigation, introduced in 1924 by A. F. Watkins.
Checked October 15, 2026. How the cards are filed