The Engelmann family has announced that Hermann Engelmann, founder of Herman Engelmann Greenhouses, Inc., has passed away.

The company, located in Apopka, Fla., is one of the largest producers of indoor houseplants in the world

Engelmann was born in Wildsruff, Germany and came to the U.S. to work and study in 1960. He founded the company in 1971 and created the Exotic Angel Brand, which is currently sold at over 11,000 retail stores in North America.

Engelmann was one of the top growers and distributors of foliage plants in the country and his passion for growing was rivaled by his passion for quality and service. According to the Exotic Angel website, Engelmann began by hand delivering plants to a handful of stores in New York and New Jersey. His philosophy was "Never overload the stores, never compromise on quality, never forget to impress the consumer and always love your product.”

For the last 15 years, Engelmann has been enjoying his retirement in Florida. He was a patron of the arts with a special interest in opera and classical music, particularly Mozart.

The Engelmann family and the company are requesting privacy at this time, but memorials are welcome on the company’s official Facebook page