Dewar Nurseries Founder Alex Dewar Passes Away

Alex Dewar, the founder of Dewar Nurseries in Apopka, FL, passed away on Oct. 16. The Dewar family posted the following message on its Facebook page this week:

“In 1963, Alex founded Dewar Nurseries with a vision to bring quality plants and exceptional variety to customers across the Southeast and beyond. What began as a small family business would grow into one of the nation’s largest growers of roses, fruit plants, and seasonal flowers.

A graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in horticulture and chemistry, Alex began his career breeding Aglaonema before pursuing his dream of establishing a nursery of his own. In the early years, he personally traveled to supermarket chains, peddling plants and building the relationships that would become the foundation of Dewar Nurseries.

In the 1980s, Alex entrusted the business to his son, Bill Dewar, who carried forward his father’s vision and continued expanding the company. Together, their leadership helped transform one nursery, ten employees, and a single pickup truck into an operation spanning five nurseries, 500 employees, and a fleet of 75 semis.

More than six decades later, Alex’s entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to quality, and passion for horticulture remain deeply rooted in our company.

As we reflect on his remarkable life, we are grateful for the foundation he built, the relationships he fostered, and the lasting impact he made on our family, our company, and the horticulture industry.

His legacy will continue to grow through the people, plants, and partnerships that define Dewar Nurseries today.”

Dewar Nurseries remains a family-run business and is currently moving through a third-generation leadership transition. The company ranked #18 on Greenhouse Grower’s 2026 Top 100 Growers list. Learn more about the company here.