2007 All-America Selection Winners

Before AAS, in the 1920’s and 30’s, consumer magazine editors knew little about new garden varieties and had few resources to obtain reliable information. Articles as a result might be misleading or incorrect. The "Garden Club" movement was in its infancy and needed material. Home, farm seed and florist magazines all were hungry for garden news.

In 1932, W. Ray Hastings was president of the Southern Seedsmen’s Association of Atlanta, Georgia. He proposed the idea of All-America Selections as a way for home gardeners to learn which new varieties are truly improved. To do so, he encouraged all seed companies to set up trial grounds, cooperatively test new varieties and agree to develop marketing efforts for new vegetables and flowers.

Mr. Hastings recommended a national network of trial grounds throughout North American climates where flower and vegetable varieties would be grown and assessed by skilled, impartial judges. The seed trials would accept only new, previously unsold varieties.

AAS was founded in 1932 and the first AAS Winners were announced a year later, after the results were tabulated for the first trial. AAS Winners have been introduced each year since 1933. In 1934, there were 30 AAS Award Winning new varieties introduced, a record number. There have not been that many AAS Winners introduced since 1934.

AAS Trials have been conducted every year since 1932. The number of Judges and sites may vary, but the trials are conducted each year. In 1984 the AAS Board of Directors decided to simplify the award system and award only two types. There is an AAS Gold Medal award reserved for a breeding breakthrough. Gold Medal Awards have been rare, only given once or twice a decade. The other AAS Award recognizes a flower or vegetable for significant achievements, proven to be superior to all others on the market.

AAS does not advertise the AAS Award Winners. AAS relies upon a public relations program to inform gardeners about AAS Winners that are announced each September. Consumer magazines, newspapers, garden club bulletins and cooperative extension agents are depended upon to introduce AAS Winners to home gardeners.

AAS continues as the oldest, most established international testing organization in North America.

Below are the All-America Selection winners for 2007. For more information about All-America Selections, visit their Website at http://www.all-americaselections.org.

Information taken from All-America Selections Website.

Correctly named, these plants look as fresh in September as they did when planted in the spring. ‘Fresh Look Gold’ plants are embellished with bright golden plumes that remain colorful all season, not "browning" with maturity. Since the plumes remain attractive, there is no reason to deadhead and no pe s t problems are expected, thus ‘Fresh Look Gold’ needs little maintenance i n a s u n ny garden. It is a carefree annual useful in formal or informal gardens . The golden plumes can be woven into a gardenbed like a living tapestry because the plumes have a soft layered texture. ‘Fresh Look Gold’ proved to be heat, humidity and rain tolerant in AAS Trials across North America. Plants will grow to a height of one foot. This celosia is one of the best annuals for season-long performance.

AAS WINNER DATA

• Genus species: Celosia plumosa
• Common name: Woolflower (Hortis third) Plumed, or Feather celosia
• Unique qualities: Very intensive color, season-long performance
• Flower size: Central plume 4-4.5 inches long and 2-3 inches wide
• Form: Plumed flower spike
• Color(s): Deep golden yellow
• Plant height: 12 inches
• Plant width: 12 inches
• Garden Spacing: 10 to 12 inches apart
• Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 110 days
• Closest comparison(s) on market: ‘Fresh Look Yellow,’ ‘Castle Yellow’

Petunia F1 ‘Opera Supreme Pink Morn’
2007 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner

Iridescent pink blooms are the unique feature of this vigorous trailing petunia . Asilvery shine causes blooms to shimmer, capturing an admirer’s attention from a distance. The 2.5-inch flowers are pink, shading to creamy white in the center, with a yellow throat. These three colors on a bloom are named a "morn" type. ‘Opera Supreme Pink Morn’ plants have many qualities that every gardener wants to find. Plants are continuously flowering. Gardeners can relax and let the plants do what comes naturally - flower. The hybrid plants are capable of growing three feet in sunny locations. This spreading quality covers garden soil and can choke weeds beautifully. Plants attain a height of only 4 to 6 inches. ‘Opera Supreme Pink Morn’ can be relied on for exceptional garden performance without pruning or deadheading. Less work enables gardeners more leisure time in the garden.

AAS WINNER DATA

• Genus species: Petunia x hybrida
• Common name: Petunia
• Unique qualities: New iridescent pink color in trailing petunias
• Flower size: 2.5 inches
• Form: Trailing
• Color(s): Pink shading to creamy white with a yellow throat
• Plant height: 4 to 6 inches
• Plant width: Spread of 3 feet
• Garden Spacing: Two feet apart
• Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 90 to 110 days
• Closest comparison(s) on market: ‘Wave Pink’, ‘Celebrity Chiffon Morn’

Vinca ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’
2007 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner

‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ is the first vinca with a burgundy halo surrounding a large white center. This bicolor bloom is a vivid contrast, exceptionally visible in an annual garden. Early flowering with a well balanced plant form, ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ is highly recommended for spring or summer plantings. With proven heat and drought tolerance, the garden performance of ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ is assured. In a full sun garden location, these vinca plants will reach a foot tall and wide when mature. Due to the ease of growing and continuous flowering, ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ is perfectly suitable for any garden or patio planters that receive sun. Because Vinca needs less water than other annuals, planting ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ in containers means fewer trips with the hose to water. Gardeners can rely on ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ to provide color all summer without pinching or tending to plant maintenance.

AAS WINNER DATA

• Genus species: Catharanthus roseus
• Common name: Vinca
• Unique qualities: Unique color in large white eye type, larger flowers and more vigorous
• Flower size: 2 inches
• Form: Single
• Color(s): Burgundy with large white center
• Plant height: 12 inches
• Plant width: 10 to 12 inches
• Garden Spacing: 10 to 12 inches
• Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 60 days
• Closest comparison(s) on market: ‘Stardust Orchid,’ ‘Pacifica Burgundy’

Pepper F1 ‘Holy Molé’
2007 AAS Vegetable Award Winner

‘Holy Molé’ is a memorable name and the plant will provide a memorable harvest of peppers. It is the first hybrid pasilla-type pepper, which is used to make the famous molé sauce. ‘Holy Molé’ showed improved vigor, earliness and considerably higher yield than the comparisons in sideby- side trials. A reason for the higher yield is the virus resistances bred into the variety. ‘Holy Molé’ is resistant to two common viruses that stunt plants and reduce pepper production. The immature green peppers are 7 to 9 inches long and can be harvested in about 85 days from transplanting. If fruit is left on the plant, they will mature to a dark chocolate color. The pepper flavor is nutty and tangy. Mature plants are 3 feet tall; a perfect size for patio containers. ‘Holy Molé’ is easily grown in a sunny location and thrives on summer heat.

AAS WINNER DATA

• Genus species: Capsicum annuum
• Common name: Pepper
• Fruit size: 8 inches long, 1.5 inches wide; fruit weight 1.5 to 2 ounces
• Fruit shape: Long and smooth like a Pasilla type
• Color(s): Dark green immature, brown mature
• Plant height: 20 inches
• Plant width: 20 inches
• Plant habit: Indeterminate growth, upright plant, spreading branches
• Garden Spacing: 2 feet apart
• Disease tolerances: Potato virus Y and Tobacco Mosaic Virus Strains 0, 1 and 2
• Unique qualities: First hybrid Pasilla, early, higher yield, hybrid vigor
• Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 120 days
• Closest comparison(s) on market: ‘Pasilla Bajio,’ ‘Pasilla Chile’