O U R H I S T O R Y
When Olin Nelson started his nursery business in Apopka over 65 years ago, he envisioned a company that would focus on the special needs of Florida. After Nelson’s established themselves with a variety of hardy foliage plants, O.F. and his sons (B.P. and Earl) began to diversify. Before 1955, people said you couldn’t grow roses in Florida. To prove that theory wrong, Nelsons decided to experiment with a wild rose that was found throughout the state of Florida and the Southeast. Along with the University of Florida, we developed a way to graft onto Fortuniana Rootstock and we have been a wholesale producer of quality grafted roses ever since.
O U R P R E S E N T & F U T U R E
In 2020, we moved from our Apopka home to Winter Garden. The area was becoming more and more industrialized and our roses were feeling the strain from the environment. We have built an all new facility from the ground up, and are slowly working to grow into the space we have available.
In 2023, the 4th generation of Nelson’s took over, along with our head grower. We are looking forward to continue our focus on quality grafted roses and tropicals. While we will honor our history, we want to grow in new directions as well! Look out for exciting new events, offerings, and items from Nelson’s.
Our stock and rootstock are all maintained, grown, and grafted on site in sunny Central Florida. Nelsons supplies upper scale, local garden centers across FL and Southeast GA; you won’t find our custom Gator-Blue pots in any big box stores. We take pride in our craft and if cared for properly, your roses will last an average of 15 to 20 + years! They will provide beauty, fragrance, and personality to your home and garden. If you want a rose garden that lasts the years, it has to be a Nelson’s Florida Rose.
Our current blooming tropicals/edibles production includes the following plants. Most offered in 4″, 6″, 8″, and 10″. We can also produce late summer/early fall liners (50/72 cell) with a 14-20 week lead time:
Bougainvillea (several varieties)
Jasmine (Sambac ‘Maid of Orleans’, ‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’, ‘Belle of India’, and Night Blooming)
Edibles (Figs: Brown Turkey, Fignominal, GE Neri, Wonderful Pomegranates, Barbados Cherries, Yellow Dragonfruit, Passionfruit ‘Possum Purple’, Everbearing Mulberries, Blueberries ‘Emerald’)
Hibiscus (several colors)
Clerodendrum ‘Bleeding Heart’ (white and red flower)
Proud members of Fresh from Florida, FNGLA, & Florida Agritourism Association
Nelson's Florida Roses 