MasterTag

The origin of modern plant tags dates back to 1949 at a hardware store in Montague, Michigan.


Published March 26, 2019

Once upon a time, there were no plant tags.

1. It all began in 1949 when a grower in Montague, Michigan named Harry Weesies approached his friend, Lou Schmidt, who ran the hardware store in town.
2. Lou was an immigrant from Germany and an entrepreneuer. At the time, he made fishing bobbers in the basement of his hardware store using plastic injection molding. Lou called his company MasterFloat.
3. Before 1950, the plant tag was primarily a wooden stake that could be written on with a pencil.
4. Harry asked Lou if he could use his knowledge of plastic injection molding to create a plastic plant tag.
5. Lou agreed, and with that act of service to a friend, the industry of care tags was born.
6. Since then, the tag quickly has become the primary source of information for gardeners when they shop for plants.

In service to a friend, Lou Schmidt created that first plant tag. Since then, we have built our business on trusted relationships that have lasted for generations.

FOR MORE: mastertag.com

Read Next

Mycorrhizal Applications

April 2019
Explore the April 2019 Issue

Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.

Latest from Greenhouse Management

More from Greenhouse Management

Beekenkamp Group and Dümmen Orange explore closer collaboration

Terra Nova Nurseries shares companion plants for popular 2025 Colors of the Year

Kurt Dramm inducted into Commercial Growers of Wisconsin Hall of Fame

Copper: The ancient metal with modern solutions in plant health

Bushel and Berry expands collection with two non-berry plant introductions

Coleus Spitfire