Rose and peony Breeder and Discoverer  

Listing last updated on Wed Aug 2024

Boring, Oregon
United States

Walter E. Marx (January 10, 1908 - December 1, 1978)
[From "The Japanese Iris" by Currier McEwen, 1990, p. 13:] Walter and Louise Marx of Boring, Oregon became interested in all types of irises as a Hobby in the 1930s. In 1937 Walter Marx ordered a collection of Japanese irises from Japan and began his wonderfully successful work with them...By the early 1970s ill health and other circumstances had interfered with the garden and the hybridizing program. Fortunately, Alan and Dorothy Rogers who lived nearby in Sherwood, Oregon, had become friends of Walter and Louise Marx and began to learn from them. After the death of Walter Marx in 1978 the Rogers, as well as some other growers, took over the Marhigos [Iris] from Louise Marx....

[From Peonies, by Jane Fernley-Whittingstall, 1999, p. 137:] "Marx's main objective had been to produce peonies with improved fragrance; 'Chinook', a strong, double white, 'Mt. St Helens', double red, the Japanese 'Louise Marx' and the single white 'Walter Marx' all bear witness to his success."