New Poinsettia to honor our partner Norwin Heimos
We are proud to announce that we will be honoring the legendary horticultural leader Norwin Heimos, who recently passed away, with the new “Norwin” poinsettia. Mr. Heimos was the owner and founder of N.G. Heimos Greenhouses in Millstadt, Ill. He started his first greenhouse in 1952, growing geraniums and poinsettias. His children still oversee the family-run greenhouse operation in the greater St. Louis area.
An instrumental collaborator with the Ecke poinsettia program (now part of Dümmen Orange), Norwin found a new pink genetic sport of a poinsettia in 1994 which was later named V-14. He brought it to Ecke and this variety was the new industry standard for years in pink poinsettias with the deepest color at that time. It was successfully sold worldwide from 1996 to 2004.
Patented under his name, Norwin Heimos discovered the sport, but assigned it to the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, Calif. In addition to this memorable variety, N.G. Heimos Greenhouses has been a primary trialing site for Dümmen Orange poinsettias before they launch to the commercial market. They are also a rooting station, selling Dümmen Orange varieties.
Since he played a vital role in assisting Dümmen Orange by introducing a breakthrough to the color pink in the poinsettia genus, we would like to honor Norwin by naming the newest advancement in orange genetics after him.