Breck's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gardening, Horticulture |
| Founded | 1818 |
| Founder | Joseph Breck |
| Headquarters | Guilford, Indiana , United States; Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands |
| Products | Dutch bulbs, perennials, tulips, irises, lilies |
| Parent | Gardens Alive! |
| Website | www |
Breck’s operates as a mail-order gardening enterprise and stands as a foremost U.S. importer of Dutch flower bulbs, with headquarters located in both Guilford, Indiana and Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands. Originating in 1818 as a family-run garden supply firm, it has since transformed into a distinguished catalog business focusing on Dutch bulbs, perennials, tulips, irises, and lilies.
History
The company was founded by Joseph Breck (1794–1873), a notable entrepreneur who launched Joseph Breck & Company in 1818 in Boston, Massachusetts. Between 1822 and 1846, he edited the New England Farmer, one of America’s earliest agricultural periodicals. In 1833, Breck published The Young Florist, which delivered horticultural knowledge through conversational narrative. The inaugural catalog from his company debuted in 1840, combining merchandise descriptions with gardening information to enhance customer engagement.
Breck’s influence extended to publishing The Flower Garden in 1856 and holding the presidency of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from 1859 to 1862. As a charter member of the American Seed Trade Association, he played a significant role in the development of American horticulture. The business remained under family control until the mid-1900s when Luther Adams "Bo" Breck, representing the fifth generation, redirected the company's focus toward importing Dutch bulbs and expanding catalog sales.
In 2001, following the bankruptcy of its parent company Foster & Gallagher, Breck’s was acquired by Gardens Alive!, a move that strategically broadened Gardens Alive!'s gardening-related offerings.