History of Shades of Texas
In 1972, at the young age of 12, Jon Mathews started his first business mowing lawns and landscaping in Pasadena, TX. As a budding entrepreneur, he wouldn’t be limited by his age, eventually hiring someone to drive him to job sites until he was old enough to provide his own transportation. In 1979, Jon traded his car for a pickup, and began designing and installing landscapes. He made his business official, and The Lawn Stylist was born.
Shortly after starting The Lawn Stylist, the entire southern region of the United States suffered crippling freezes that killed the plants Jon needed for his landscaping business. After painstakingly acquiring these plants from the East and West coasts, Jon put his entrepreneurial mind to work. With the help of his family, he sought out a more sustainable way of sourcing materials, which led to the eventual creation of a full scale nursery and growing operation. In 1998, Jon opened Shades of Texas. Now one the largest nurseries in the Houston area, and spanning two locations, Shades of Texas remains a family-owned, Christian-based company.
Giving credit where credit is due, Jon acknowledges The Creator as his co-founder. “I can’t make the grass grow, the sun shine, or make dirt. So, He [God] and I make a pretty good team.”
In the 1990s, Jon’s son, Jon Gabriel, began helping his dad on the majority of his worksites. Even as a young boy, he displayed his father’s work ethic and passion for the industry. Now, with over 30 years of immersive education and experience, Jon Gabriel is a joint owner of Shades of Texas, alongside his father and mother, Brenda. His sister also has an active role within the company, rooting Shades of Texas as a family-operated business.
Shades of Texas has always been about planting for the future. Jon’s perseverance and resourcefulness, along with Jon Gabriel’s insight and forward-thinking have taken the humble beginnings of homegrown plants to being a premier supplier of quality, diverse landscaping materials in Houston, Texas. From multimillion-dollar properties to retention ponds, and even reforestation projects, Shades of Texas can be recognized by its trademark quality craftsmanship, unique plant offerings, and distinctive landscaping materials. With faith and family at the heart of Shades of Texas, the Mathews continue to create and grow a legacy of exceptional customer service and outstanding landscaping elements.