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You’ve probably seen the logo for the All-America Selections Winners – with its bright red, white and blue shield on seed packets and starter plants – but what’s it all about? Does it mean a particular plant is among the best, will grow just about anywhere and anytime, and will probably be a great addition to your garden? Well, if you’re into new plant varieties, the answer is yes, yes and yes!
 The All-America Selections logo means you can be assured it’s one of the best new varieties on the market. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
All-America Selections (AAS) is a well-established horticulture group with the mission of promoting “new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.” The group was the brainchild of Southern seedsman Ray Hastings back in the “dark ages” of gardening in 1932.
Ray came up with the brilliant idea of establishing a network of trial grounds for new varieties of flowers and vegetables throughout the country. He figured the plants could be grown and assessed by impartial judges to find out which ones were top picks. With the help of the Southern Seedsman’s Association (of which he was president), Ray set up 20 trial grounds nationwide. And that was just the beginning. Now there are nearly 50 trial grounds and about 200 display gardens growing AAS plants throughout the US and Canada!
Today, seed professionals all over the world vie for the chance to win the coveted award and be added to the list of AAS winning varieties. And we home gardeners benefit, too – we don’t have to wade through countless packets of seeds to find the best! Instead, we can just look for that AAS logo to find out what’s new, as well as determine which plants have better disease resistance, earlier bloom or yield, good uniformity, new flower colors and better veggie flavor.
Of course, that said, not every AAS winner is going to be a winner in your garden every time. (There are just too many variables to make that happen.) Nevertheless, you can be assured that if the seed packet or plant tag bears that AAS logo, you’re trying to grow something new and different in your garden or container that has grown well around North America.
So what are the winners for 2010? Let’s check them out!
Antirrhinum majus ‘Twinny Peach’ is a snapdragon with double, lipless flowers, so technically they don’t snap. The “butterfly” blooms offer soft shades of peach, yellow and light orange and appear on abundant flower spikes that can be enjoyed outdoors or cut for indoor bouquets. ‘Twinny Peach’ reaches 11 ¾ inches tall and 7 ¾ inches wide. It likes full sun, is reportedly easy to grow and has exhibited heat tolerance. Try growing it with the blue tones of Salvia farinacea or purple foliage plants for a stunning display. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Citrullus lanatus ‘Shiny Boy’ produces globe-shaped, red-fleshed watermelons with dark seeds. The vine can grow up to 12 feet long, and melons can reportedly weigh up to 20 pounds (some larger). Don’t let this size intimidate you: ‘Shiny Boy’ can be grown vertically in full sun, so you don’t need a large space to grow this tasty fruit. The plant should grow successfully in any geographic region with warm summers. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’ offers 3- to 4-inch, deep rose-purple flowers that tend to retain their color longer than other purple coneflowers. Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 3, the plant reaches 20-24 inches tall and 12-16 inches wide in a full-sun garden and reportedly blooms continually without deadheading. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Mesa Yellow’ features 3-inch, daisy-like flowers and globe-shaped seed heads throughout summer. The blooms attract butterflies or can be cut for bouquet enjoyment. Reaching 16-18 inches tall and 20-22 inches wide, the plant likes full sun and adapts well to small-space gardens and containers. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Tagetes erecta ‘Moonsong Deep Orange’ is a 12- to 15-inch-tall, 11- to 14-inch-wide marigold with intense deep-orange, fade-resistant flowers. The 2 ½- to 3 ½-inch, double blooms continue to flower while temperatures are warm and favorable. This vigorous plant likes full sun and can tolerate heat or drought stress. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Viola (Endurio™ Sky Blue Martien) is a unique, spreading/mounding viola that has ¾-inch, sky blue flowers. In mild southern regions, the plant blooms throughout winter. In northern temperate climates, it flowers after first frost when planted in autumn, then will reportedly flower again come spring. Sky Blue Martien can also be planted in early spring, covering planters and landscapes with its flowers well into summer. Growing 6 inches tall and 10-12 inches wide, the plant is also suited for spring-planted window box gardens, hanging baskets and balcony/patio container. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Zinnia ‘Zahara Double Cherry’ features fully double, 2 ½-inch, cherry-red flowers that bloom profusely during the warm growing season. The bedding plant grows well in the full-sun garden or in containers that are 4 inches or larger, and it can be cut for indoor arrangements. ‘Zahara Double Cherry’ reaches about 12 inches tall and wide at maturity and has shown excellent heat and drought tolerance, as well as dependable resistance to leaf spot and mildew diseases. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Zinnia ‘Zahara Double Fire’ offers a compact stature, excellent heat and drought tolerance and profuse flowering from spring until the end of the growing season. Featuring 2 ½-inch, fully double, fire-red flowers, this zinnia requires little garden maintenance. Mature plants reach about 14 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It performs best in full sun and thrives on summer heat. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
Zinnia ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ boasts clear white daisies with a rich cherry-red mark at the base of each petal. The mid-sized plant reaches about 12-14 inches tall and wide at maturity and makes a bold statement in the full-sun garden or in containers. Cut the stems for long-lasting enjoyment in indoor flower arrangements. ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ also offers excellent heat and drought tolerance and has proved resistant to leaf spot and mildew. Photo Credit: All-America Selections
So keep an eye out for that bright and distinctive AAS logo this spring when you’re searching for your flowers and veggies! You many just find these beauties are winners in your garden and containers, too!
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| Facts |
- In addition to having trial grounds throughout the country, All-America Selections has about 200 display gardens across the continent that can be visited by the public. (So when you try a new winner, you can rest assured that the plant’s proved its worth in your region.)
- Gold medal awards given to new varieties in the All-America Selections trials are few and far between – it really takes a distinctive variety to achieve “gold medal” status.
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| Faqs |
- Q: How is judging kept impartial?
A: There are 61 judges at 48 trial grounds who judge the seed samples, which are identified only by number. The judges score them according to a point system, then return their scores to AAS for a final tally. - Q: Are three winners typical for a year?
A: Three winners is a low number, but it’s not the lowest. Only one variety was named a winner in 1954 and 1976, but in 1935, 32 varieties got the coveted award. (Petunias have produced the most winners.) The average number of winners per year has been about nine.
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| Resources |
- You can find more information about AAS – and all its winners – on its Website.
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