In the early 20th century, Americans grew more interested in ornamental horticulture. Nurserymen like Mr. Taber imported plants from all over the world to try to capture customers' interests. Among these varieties is the azalea, a flowering bush from Japan. 1
Glen Saint Mary Nurseries Company may be most famous for its introduction of the George Taber Azalea, named in honor of its founder, George Taber Sr. There are two different accounts of the discovery of the Taber azalea. One account by Gene Barber credits Earnest “Earn” Harris, a propagation assistant on the nursery, with discovering an abnormal branch on a Homasaki azalea bush. Harris, his supervisor John O. Barton, and Hume examined the bush, pruned away the normal branches, and allowed the plant to grow into the “most attractive azalea, as claimed by some, produced since the plant was first captured and improved from the wilds” 2 This version claims that the azaleas were added to the catalog in 1929, but according to other sources the azalea was not introduced until 1938. 3 Another account credits George L. Taber Jr. with the discovery of the azalea. According to this account, Taber Jr. “noticed a sport on a lavender Omurasaki azalea one spring while admiring the flowers in the azalea garden.” He discovered it the year before Taber Sr. died and began to propagate it. 4 All sources agree that the azalea was named in honor of Taber Sr. for all of his contributions to the nursery and to horticulture in the United States. 5
