Tyler became the center of U.S. rose production in the 20th century

The sandy, acidic soils of East Texas proved ideal for growing rose bushes. By 1945, about 200 growers operated in the area, with Smith County accounting for 80 percent of total rose output. In the 1950s, the area shipped roughly 15 million plants a year.

The rose industry shrank over the following decades as competition increased. By the early 1990s, fewer than 50 growers remained, though production was still valued at about $50 million annually at that time. The Texas Rose Festival in Tyler each October has marked the harvest since 1933.