Est. 1972 · Indianapolis, Indiana
The Hoosier Boy Story
Independent. Indiana-Tested. Three generations of growing expertise.
We don't sell plants to the public. We grow them for the people who do.
Schlegel Greenhouse is a wholesale grower on the south side of Indianapolis. We supply independent garden centers across Indiana with premium annuals — the kind that perform in our soil, our heat, and our unpredictable springs.
When you see a Hoosier Boy tag at your local garden center, it means that plant was grown here, tested here, and chosen because we know it works here. No guesswork. No generic selections. Just varieties we stand behind.
Some of the Schlegel Greenhouse family
Family Owned
Three generations of growing expertise, rooted in Indianapolis since 1972.
Indiana Tested
Every variety has been tested in Indiana’s heat, humidity, and unpredictable springs.
Wholesale Partners
We grow for the businesses that serve you — independent garden centers across Indiana.
Indianapolis Roots
Part of the southside greenhouse legacy that has defined Indiana horticulture for over a century.
“The varieties we recommend aren't just popular — they're the ones we've grown ourselves and know will perform in your Indiana backyard.”
— Schlegel Greenhouse
Our Journey
A Legacy of Growing
The German Growers
German immigrant families from Westphalia, the Rhineland, and cities like Hanover and Wittenburg settled in southwestern Marion County and established greenhouses and truck gardens along Bluff Road. The German Gardeners Benefit Society was founded in 1867. The area grew to become one of the largest concentrations of winter tomato and lettuce production under glass in the entire United States.
The Hoosier Boy Name Is Born
The Marion County Greenhouse Growers Association was founded, and the “Hoosier Boy” trade name was adopted by 87 member businesses. An Indiana State Historical Marker on Bluff Road at Hanna Avenue commemorates this legacy. By the 1940s, more than 75 families had built a greenhouse corridor that rivaled most American cities in acres under glass.
Original Hoosier Boy crate
Schlegel Greenhouse Opens
The industry faced challenges in the 1960s when refrigerated trucking reduced demand for local growers. Rising fuel costs drove most historic families from the business. But the legacy wasn't lost. Schlegel Greenhouse opened its doors, carrying forward the tradition of Indiana-grown quality.
Louis F. Schlegel
The Expansion
Paul Schlegel, a third-generation grower, revived the dormant Hoosier Boy brand and brought it into his own operation. Decades of refining Indiana-tested genetics — selecting varieties that thrive in our specific soil, our humidity, and our summers. Growing over 100,000 mums, 20,000 poinsettias, and hundreds of thousands of annuals each year.
Today: A New Generation
The Hoosier Boy name now represents the standard of excellence for Indiana gardeners. Our Planter Designer helps customers build professional-grade container gardens. Our Fancy Boy collection showcases what's possible when decades of expertise meet the season's best genetics. And our network of independent garden centers ensures every Hoosier can grow like a Hoosier.
As Seen On
Hoosier Boy in the News
WISH-TV Lifestyle Live
Fall Mums: Hoosier Boy’s Guide to Keeping Them Alive
We grow over 100,000 mums annually. Mario Mirelez shares care tips as fall chrysanthemums hit local garden centers.
Watch on WISH-TVWISH-TV
Hoosier Boy Offers Variety of Poinsettia Colors for the Holidays
Roughly 20,000 poinsettias in colors beyond traditional red — lime green, speckled, soft peach, and our show-stopping Pink Champagne.
Watch on WISH-TVWISH-TV
Historic Hoosier Boy Greenhouse Brand Returns
The story of how Paul Schlegel revived the historic Hoosier Boy name and brought it back to Indiana garden centers.
Watch on WISH-TVReady to see the Hoosier Boy difference?
Find our plants at an independent garden center near you, or design your own professional-grade planter with our free designer tool.