All-America Selections
has announced nine ornamental winners and two vegetable winners for 2003. Look for the red, white and
blue logo of All-America Selections on
seed packets in retail stores, plant tags in bedding plants in garden centers or
nurseries, or in mail-order catalogs this spring. Success is almost guaranteed with these
varieties of reliable new
flower and vegetable varieties.
The non-profit All-America Selections (AAS) organization was founded in 1932 to foster the development, production and distribution of new and better horticultural and agricultural varieties, species, strains and kinds in and for North America. AAS winners are superior new annual flower and vegetable plants recognized for significant achievements – a promise of gardening success. Only the very best varieties receive this prestigious award. All AAS winners have been tested for home garden performance in more than 30 independent test sites, each under the responsibility of an AAS judge, all over the United States and Canada. Gardeners can rely on AAS Winners to perform in their garden because of these unbiased, independent tests. Most of the time only one to three flower varieties and the same number of vegetables get this award each year, and sometimes none qualifies.
The twelve AAS winners for 2003 are:
 Gold Medal Flower Award Winner'Purple Majesty' Ornamental Millet can be described as "tall, dark and handsome". Young plants are green-leaved; direct sunlight induces the purple leaf color. Capable of growing 3 to 5 feet tall, the plants are embellished with 8- to 12-inch flower spikes. The immature spikes can be cut and used dramatically in floral arrangements. Left on the plant, the millet seed spike attracts birds that snack on seed. 'Purple Majesty' is very easy to grow and is very tolerant of heat and low moisture. The purple leaf blades and spike are distinctly different from all other ornamentals. |
 AAS
Flower Award Winner'Can Can Scarlet' Carnation is one of the most fragrant garden carnations. The spicy fragrance will almost fill a room when the double, 2-inch blooms are cut and used in a bouquet. 'Can Can Scarlet' is heat tolerant, producing flowers throughout the growing season into the fall. This variety is perfect for a cut flower garden, the gray-green foliage contrasts with the bright scarlet blooms. Mature plants will reach 12 to 14 inches tall. Flowering pot plants will be available from garden centers in the spring or fall. |
 AAS Flower Award Winner'Prairie Sun' Rudbeckia hirta is a robust plant with distinctive blooms. The light green central cone blends beautifully with the golden-yellow petals, which are tipped primrose yellow. The 5-inch blooms on branching plants that mature at about 3 feet tall make a strong statement in any full-sun garden. Easy to grow and maintain, 'Prairie Sun' is a memorable plant in any perennial, annual or cut flower garden. Flower stems are sufficiently long for quality cut flowers. 'Prairie Sun' plants become a forceful focal point in any large container. |
 AAS
Flower Award Winner'Merlin Blue Morn' Petunia is a distinctly different blue and white petunia. The 2½-inch blooms are pure white in the center with a soft transition to velvety blue on the petal edge. The bicolor pattern is highly visible from a distance. Best garden performance will occur in full sun. The branching plants will spread 18 to 30 inches and attain a mature height of 15 to 20 inches. 'Merlin Blue Morn' is highly recommended for use in hanging baskets or patio containers. 'Merlin Blue Morn' bedding plants will be available from retail stores. |
 AAS
Flower Award Winner'Golden Jubilee' Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop) is a golden-leaved aromatic herb that thrives in a full sun or partial shade, but should not be relegated only to the herb garden. The symmetrical, branching plants reach a mature height of 20 inches and spread 10 to 15 inches. The heat-loving plants will produce dense spikes of lavender-blue florets that crown the plants in mid to late summer. The attractive serrated leaves release an alluring mint fragrance when lightly crushed. 'Golden Jubilee' is an easily grown undemanding annual. Named 'Golden Jubilee' to commemorate the 50 years' reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II. |
 AAS
Flower Award Winner'Blue Wave' Petunia is covered with velvety, dark blue 2-inch blooms on this trailing plant for the growing season. The plants are capable of spreading 3 to 4 feet like a ground cover. Mature plant height can be 4 to 7 inches. The 'Wave' improvement is little garden toil. No pinching or pruning is needed for 'Blue Wave' to flower all season. The plants need moderately fertile soil to maintain the freedom of bloom. 'Blue Wave' is adaptable to any container. Flowering pot plants will be available at retail stores this spring. |
 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner'Jaio Dark Red' Vinca is a really red vinca with a small white center that sets this summer flowering vinca apart from all others. The large 2½-inch blooms can cover the basal branching plant throughout the growing season. The glossy green foliage is not attractive to insects or larger mammals such as deer. When grown in a full-sun garden location, 'Jaio Dark Red' plants can attain a mature plant height of 15 inches, spreading up to 20 inches. Extremely heat and drought tolerant, 'Jaio Dark Red' provides constant garden color with minimal care. |
 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner'Corona Cherry Magic' Dianthus is the first dianthus with a capricious bicolor pattern. The flower color can be entirely cherry red, entirely lavender or a mosaic of both colors. The unpredictable design is whimsical. Best performance will occur in a full-sun location. Expect large, 2-inch blooms. 'Corona Cherry Magic' plants will reach 7 to 9 inches tall when mature and spread 8 to 10 inches. This annual provides flower color throughout the growing season. 'Corona Cherry Magic' bedding plants will be available from garden centers. |
 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner'Sundance Bicolor' Gaillardia is the first consistent mahogany red and yellow bicolor gaillardia flower. The globe-shaped blooms are primarily double and can cover the plant throughout the growing season. Exhibiting heat and drought tolerance, 'Sundance Bicolor' is carefree in the garden. The spreading plants need 15 to 16 inches of garden space, preferably in full sun. This annual needs moderately fertile soil and moisture to flower abundantly during the summer. The spreading habit is desirable for hanging baskets or patio containers. |
 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner'Forever White' Eustoma is simply the best white flowering eustoma for your garden. The large 2½-inch ivory-white blooms cover the plant at various times throughout the growing season. 'Forever White' exhibited heat and low moisture tolerance in trials across North America. The compact, branching plant lends itself to container culture. Attaining a mature height of 12 inches, 'Forever White' plants fit perfectly into patio containers where the blooms can be appreciated with close contact. 'Forever White' flowering potted plants will be available from garden centers. |
 AAS
Vegetable Award Winner'Angel' Melon is an early Mediterranean-type with a heavenly flavor. All melon sugars are scientifically measured as a brix count. 'Angel' measured 16% to 19%, which indicates a very sweet flavor. The 2- to 3-pound melons have a white interior with a crisp texture. 'Angel' helps the gardener know when to harvest. The lightly netted melon skin turns creamy yellow when mature; about 60 days from planting young 'Angel' plants into the garden. 'Angel' vines will spread 6 to 7 feet and are resistant to fusarium wilt races 0 and 2. |
 AAS
Vegetable Award Winner'Papaya Pear' Summer Squash is the first summer squash with a shape similar to a tropical papaya fruit. The bright yellow squash looks like a light bulb with the widest section near the blossom end. One of the earliest varieties, 'Papaya Pear' fruit can be harvested in about 40 days from sowing seed. The semi-bush plant requires less garden space. For plants that yield squash continuously, pick 'Papaya Pear' at a young stage when about 3 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. Easy to grow in any garden with full sun. |
There are many more AAS winners from previous years that still deserve a
place in the garden. The Annual Manual
lists
many of the winners from the last 65 years, and most seed catalogs indicate
which of their selections are winners.
Additional information
