Our History

E.F.G. Orchids recently celebrated its 80th year in business. A lot has changed over the years, but our commitment to overall excellence has remained constant.

Founded in 1939 outside of Chicago by Great Grandfather Carl D. Hausermann and Grandpa Erwin Hausermann Sr., E.F.G. evolved primarily to furnish the wholesale market with cut orchid blooms and gardenias. 

In the 1960s the third generation Ronald, George Sr., Erwin Jr., and Kenneth Hausermann joined their father in the business. With a decline in the demand for corsages and increased expenses involved with the 120,000 square foot nursery, this once lucrative business was on its way to one of many changes to come. The "new" generation had a new goal and direction for the company. They wanted to produce new orchid varieties to enhance the sale of cut flowers. This led to E.F.G. becoming the largest wholesale producer of cut cattleya orchid flowers in the world. Their hybridizing program produced crosses that are known worldwide. 

Among E.F.G. Orchids' most noted crosses are Cattleya Clark Herman, Lc. Everett Dirksen, Blc. Ronald Hausermann, and Phalaenopsis Wm. Kistler.

In 1990, the fourth generation (Ingrid, Paula, George Jr., and Carl Hausermann) joined their father George Sr. and mother Ursula in the business. In February 1990, E.F.G. Orchids officially opened its doors for orchid plant sales to the retail market. George Jr. had quickly become a well-known name in the industry and is renowned for his hybridizing of many new phaius and paphiopedilum orchids.

In 1999, George Jr. and his wife Paula relocated to Florida to create an innovative new greenhouse and began to add a wide variety of exotic plant species to their collection. In 2002, E.F.G. Orchids officially closed down its operation in Illinois and had become fully established at its new location in Deland, Florida. That same year, EFG held its first annual Orchtoberfest plant festival. 

In 2011, Elmhurst Flower Growers reopened its new greenhouse to the general public. George Jr.'s son Quinton officially entered into the company as its grower in 2017. Quinton implemented modern point of sale systems, redesigned different areas of the greenhouse to provide a more retail-friendly atmosphere, and has created several new hybrids of Philodendron/Anthurium that are currently available at our greenhouse. 

George and Quinton recently opened a new plant supply store addition at our greenhouse called The Jungle Outpost, and are currently in the process of designing a 6400 square foot pyramid conservatory greenhouse. Our goal is to immerse our guests into an educational jungle adventure, where families and friends can experience our plants growing in conditions similar to their natural environments.