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"Gene Mertes"

 
  For his innumerable contributions to the world of chrysanthemums, Gene Mertes has been honored by having a chrysanthemum named in his honor.  He currently resides in Gainsville, VA.

On May 9th, 2003, Harry Lawson a chrysanthemum hybridizer in England, registered a new chrysanthemum cultivar named "Gene Mertes" with the NCS - UK floral committee.  It is classed as a 24b P.  In NCS - USA terms this would make it a reflex.

The official records of the floral committee meeting in Stafford say:  "Gene Mertes 24b P, a fairly narrow petaled reflex, rather shallow, but the flowers were on the young side, lower petals pink with the younger petals forming a dark pink top.

Harry entered Gene Mertes in the NCS - UK Early National Show held at Stafford on September 6th and 7th, 2003.  It failed to place in the top three. Only time will tell the value of the cultivar.

In 2005, King's Mums introduced the mum to the American market and featured it as one of its new introductions. The mum is again listed in their new 2006 catalog. 

 

Picture courtesy of Gene Mertes and the text was lifted from the February, 2004 "The Mum Chronicle".