John C. Teas and E. Y. Teas began Teas Nursery in 1843 in Raysville, Indiana. John C. and E. Y. Teas were founding members of the Indiana Pomological Society (later called Indiana Horticultural Society). In 1868, John C. Teas brought Teas Nursery to Carthage, Missouri, and there developed the “Teas Weeping Mulberry,” the white flowering redbud, and several varieties of the catalpa tree. His son Edward J. Teas was born in 1870.

Edward J. (Papa) Teas, John's son, expanded the business to Joplin, Missouri, and brought Teas Nursery to its current Bellaire location in 1910. Bellaire was then part of Westmoreland Farms. Edward Teas established himself as the first professional Landscape Architect in the Houston area. His work lives on in the beautiful landscaping on Main Street approaching the Warwick Hotel, in the Montrose area, and in the basic landscape plans for River Oaks and Rice University.

Mr. Edward Teas, Sr., affectionately known as "Papa Teas," was one of the first non-Englishmen to become a member of the prestigious Royal Horticulture Society. His life long love of orchids, roses, hibiscus and many other plants led him to help establish local gardening "societies" in the Houston area. In 1946, Papa Teas helped found the Houston Orchid Society and served as its first president. Papa Teas was working on his orchids the day he died in 1951.

Teas Nursery was instrumental in the "greening" of Houston over the years, bringing many new plant varieties to the area. In its day Teas Nursery provided a wide spectrum of services including design and build landscaping projects all over the Houston area. Under the management of John F. Teas and Tom S. Teas the late 20th century garden center covered 10 acres, "biggest farm inside the loop." Large supplies of trees, shrubs, roses, bedding plants, houseplants, and orna-mentals provided customers a big selection both in product depth and variety. A full service Florist Shop was added in the 1980's and a mail order catalog provided exotic plants and supplies nationwide.

Teas Nursery Company traces its history to 1843, when John C. Teas (1827-1927) began selling apples out of his back yard in Indiana. After moving the business to Missouri in 1868, Teas became a nationally prominent horticulturist.

In 1908, his son, horticulturist Edward Teas Sr., (1870-1951), met developer W.W. Baldwin who was then planning the community of Westmoreland Farms and the town of Bellaire in southwest Harris County. Baldwin hired Teas to execute the planting designs for Bellaire Boulevard and adjacent streets.

Teas started work in Bellaire early in 1909. The next year, he moved his family from Missouri to this site and opened Teas Nursery Company. Initially specializing in the sale of fruit trees and flowering shrubs and plants, the business was later expanded to include landscaping services.

The company's early projects included the landscaping of Rice Institute (now Rice University) and the River Oaks subdivision. By 1951 Teas Nursery had planted over one million trees in the Houston area. Edward Teas died the same year, leaving the ownership of Teas Nursery to his descendants
(1993).

Historical Marker is located at 4400 Bellaire Blvd. in Bellaire, Texas. The marker was erected in 1993.

Many Thanks to the Bellaire Historical Society for their help in the erection of this marker.

The dedication of the State Historical Marker was in 1993 at Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd. Local dignitaries spoke at the dedication and many of the Teas employees and customers were present. This was to coincide with the 150th year in business. All the Teas family pictured here were employed at the nursery around this time except Billie Teas, the widow of Edward Teas Jr.
Back Row: Tom Teas, president and CEO, Dan Teas, plant buyer, David Teas, nursery supervisor, Wayne Teas, equipment maintenance, and Joe Teas, landscape architect, Front Row: Diann Teas, Advertising, Bille Teas, Pat Teas, accounting, and John Teas, vice-president and garden center general manager.