Orig. in Red Bluff, Calif., by Grant Merrill. Introd. in 1960. Plant patent 2153; 12 June 1962. Parentage unknown; selected in 1959. Fruit: large, averaging 2 5/8 inches or more in diam.; globose to slightly compressed; skin medium thick, undercolor bright yellow, light red near pit, moderately juicy, firm, flavor mild, subacid, aroma moderate, eating quality good, not darkening when exposed to air; freestone, but adhering some on ventral suture near base; ripens very late, 15-30 Sept. at place of origin, with Merrill Fiesta, or 2 weeks after Splendor, which it resembles, or 1 month after J.H. Hale. Tree: size medium, smaller than Splendor; productive; leaf glands reniform; flower salmon pink, small, blooming about midseason with Fay Elberta; leaf wavy, distinctly crinkled; self-fruitful. Susceptible to bacterial spot. Bud tender. Produces low number of flower buds. May crack and rot under rainy conditions.
Key
Evaluations are based on a 1-8 scale (6=OK,7=Commercially acceptable, 8=Excellent)
Size is in inches
Shape: round is assumed, T=tip, P=point, S=suture, OB=oblate, OV=ovate
Pubescence: 10=nectarine
Blush: presented as percentage of ground color cover with red or similar
Freeness: 3=early cling, 8=completely free
Status: 0=discard, 1=keep
Notes: SOS=soft on suture, SOT=soft on tip, RIF=red in flesh, GAS=green around stem
RAP=red around pit, GGC=green ground color, sz=size, wh=white, yt=young tree, CCT=concave tip
Bloom date is when approx. 90% of blooms are open (full bloom)
The description of each variety of peach or nectarine fruit under each group is in different formats as this information is collected from varied sources and hence is not consistent