Siebenthaler Nursery Company Records

The Siebenthaler Company was founded in 1870 by John Siebenthaler under the guidance of his father George. In the early years they specialized in grapes and fruit trees. They encouraged the general public to get involved with trees and nature in order to both beautify the area and to produce fruit. By 1920 fruit trees were largely replaced by the sale of shrubs and ornamental trees. Other aspects of the business taking on prominence during this period were the cultivation of roses and expansion into the field of landscaping. In the early 1930s the company originated over thirty varieties of oriental poppies which were in great demand.

It was in the mid-twenties that the organization began to really expand and acquire more locations. The original location, Catalpa Drive and Siebenthaler Avenue, had expanded to eighty acres. Increased business and the desire to increase potential capacity led to the purchase of 140 additional acres in present day Moraine. Later, in 1956, they purchased more acreage in Beaver Valley bringing the total to 432 acres. This is their current amount of land from which they operate two modern garden centers and two nurseries which provide a source for lawn and garden needs and a complete landscape service.

George Siebenthaler immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1841. Under his guidance his son John organized the nursery in 1870. It was the children of John Siebenthaler who really provided the impetus needed to develop the business. John had seven children. Wilber Siebenthaler (1891-1940) succeeded his father as head of the firm. Following Wilber was Clarence (1894-1950) who developed the landscape aspects of the business. John Siebenthaler, another son, concentrated on plant material and was responsible for the cultivation of new varieties of lilacs and two new shade trees. George and Mary, along with Robert Siebenthaler, son of Clarence, were responsible for the company's operation in the 1970s. By 2015, six generations of the family have run the company.

The Siebenthaler Nursery is a prominent fixture in the local community, having landscaped for NCR corporate headquarters, Wright Patterson Air Force Base's Memorial Garden, the Dayton Art Institute, and the Dayton Public Library, as well as homes of the Kettering family and Wright family. The Siebenthaler Nursery also has far reaching influences. Their influence on the nursery business has been felt not only by their membership in important trade association but also by the development of unusual trees and shrubs. Most notably are the Moraine Locust (1949), Moraine Ash (1958), and the Wright Brothers Maple. The Moraine Locust was the first shade tree ever patented. The Siebenthaler Nursery played an important role in the development of the nursery business in the United States.

This brief history of the Siebenthaler Nursery has been primarily compiled from the centennial publication of the company enclosed within this collection.