Downers Grove, Illinois — All-America Selections (AAS) is pleased
to announce the first seven of the 2011 AAS Winners. Following a trial period
where these new, never-before-sold varieties are “Tested Nationally and
Proven Locally,” the AAS judges have submitted their evaluations and
selected only the best performers as AAS Winners. With this announcement, these
varieties are available for immediate sale and distribution so home gardeners
will find seeds and plants available in time for their 2011 seed ordering and
gardening season. For a complete list of trial ground locations, please see the
AAS website.
All-America
Selections was founded in 1932 and continues as the oldest independent plant
testing organization in North America. Every
year, never-before-sold varieties are trialed in the organization’s Trial
Grounds where professional horticulturists determine which varieties will be
deemed winners based on their garden performance. AAS winners are announced
three times a year. Additional AAS winners will be announced in late January.
The 2011 AAS
Winners are:
BEDDING PLANT
WINNER: Salvia ‘Summer Jewel Red’
This Salvia coccinea was consistently rated
“superior” or “above average” by the AAS judges because of its early and
generous flower blossoms, continuing from spring to autumn. Additionally, each
dwarf and densely branching plant remains a tidy 20 inches tall, even at full
maturity. The bright red flower spikes are covered with half inch blooms making
it perfect for the bird lover’s garden where the bright red color acts as a
magnet for hummingbirds. As an added bonus, goldfinches swarm the plant for
seeds. Even the leaves add beauty with their finer-textured, dark-green color.
‘Summer Jewel Red’, just 50 days from sowing to first flower, is approximately
two weeks earlier than comparisons. Expect long season performance and superior
holding ability in both wind and rain. This annual is ideal for full sun
containers, mixed beds and borders where uniformity is desired. Bred by Takii
& Co Ltd.
COOL SEASON
WINNER: Ornamental Kale ‘Glamour Red’ F1
This is
All-America Selections’ first winning kale (edible or ornamental) in 78 years
of trialing! ‘Glamour Red’ is an excellent achievement in breeding for its
unique shiny leaves. The waxless quality of the leaves makes them shiny with a
more intense, vivid color as compared to existing ornamental brassicas. Judges
noted that the shiny foliage is striking in the landscape and it out-performed
comparisons with outstanding success. It is a fringed leaf type Brassica oleracea with flower head size
of 10 to 12 inches. This full sun annual will bloom 90 days from sowing seed to
first color. Leaf coloring begins when night temperatures fall below 55?F for
approximately two weeks. Expect good disease tolerance in all regions and frost
tolerant blooms from November to March in warmer climates. Bred by Takii &
Co. Ltd.
COOL SEASON
WINNER: Viola ‘Shangri-La Marina’
F1
This winning Viola cornuta is an early-flowering,
mounding viola in a vibrant new color for this type. In trials, the 6-inch tall
plants kept a low-growing mounding habit. Colorful and prolific 1¼-inch blooms
have light blue petals with a velvety dark blue face that is surrounded by a
narrow white border. Judges noted earlier (70 days from sowing to first flower)
and showier blooms with noticeable drive-by flower power. Flower color was a
consistent deep Marina
blue throughout the season. This vigorous frost-tolerant biennial provides a
solid mat of fall color until covered with snow followed by a great recovery in
spring. Grow in full sun as a low edging in the garden or in hanging baskets and
pots. Bred by Tokita Seed Co. Ltd.
FLOWER WINNER: Gaillardia
‘Arizona
Apricot’
Gaillardia
‘Arizona Apricot’ offers a new and unique apricot color for this class. Blooms
have yellow edges that deepen to a rich apricot in the center. Judges noted the
award-winning distinctive flower color of the 3- to 3 1/2-inch daisy-like
flowers, described as exceptionally lovely and lighter in color than
traditional gaillardia. Just 105 days after sowing seed, this Gaillardia x grandiflora will bloom from
early summer into autumn. The compact 12-inch tall plants offer bright green
foliage and a tidy uniform habit best viewed when planted to the front of the
flower bed. ‘Arizona Apricot’ is free-flowering, blooming heavily without
vernalization, covering the plant with bright blooms that look great in mass.
This long-flowering perennial is hardy in USDA Zones 2-10, is relatively
maintenance free, and drought-tolerant once established. Gardeners will want to
remove old flowers to encourage additional blooming. Bred by Ernst Benary of
America Inc.
VEGETABLE
WINNER: Pumpkin ‘Hijinks’ F1
‘Hijinks,’
defined as lively enjoyment and unrestrained fun, is an apt name for this
pumpkin winner that offers loads of seasonal fun. This winning pumpkin variety
produces small-sized, 6- to 7-pound fruits, of a very uniform size and shape.
Smooth deep orange skin with distinctive grooves gives a very classy appearance
to fall decorations and is ideal for painting or carving. The strong durable
stem makes a great handle. Gardeners can expect high yields, notable resistance
to powdery mildew, easy fruit removal from plants and excellent stem
attachment. Allow plenty of space in the garden for long vines that spread up
to 15 feet. Early to mature, this Cucurbita
pepo is ready for harvest in about 100 days from sowing or 85 days from
transplant. Bred by Sakata Seed America Inc.
VEGETABLE
WINNER: Tomato ‘Lizzano’ F1
‘Lizzano’ is a
vigorous semi-determinate tomato variety with a low-growing, trailing habit
excellent for growing in patio containers or hanging baskets. In the garden,
some staking will benefit this plant despite a nice compact and uniform growth
habit. The durable, appealing plants grow 16 to 20 inches tall with a compact
spread of only 20 inches. Expect abundant yields of high-quality, bright red,
baby cherry sized fruits. The small 1-inch fruits weigh about 0.4 ounces. The
plentiful fruit set allows for continual harvest beneficial for the home
gardener. Judges noted better eating quality, yield and plant habit than
comparisons. ‘Lizzano’ is the first Late Blight tolerant cherry fruited
semi-determinate variety on the market. Disease resistant plants will last
later into the growing season. Harvest begins 105 days from sowing seed or 63
days from transplant. Bred by Pro-Veg Seeds Ltd.
VEGETABLE
WINNER: Tomato ‘Terrenzo’ F1
‘Terenzo’ is a
high yielding red cherry fruited ‘Tumbler’ type of tomato that is a prolific
producer on a tidy low-growing, trailing plant. The round fruit is a standard
size cherry having an approximate size of 1¼ inches and an average weight of
0.7 ounces. A brix sugar content of 6 percent ensures this is sweet-tasting
tomato. With a plant height of only 16 to 20 inches, this compact variety is
suitable for growing in hanging baskets or containers as a patio type tomato.
This very easy-to-grow determinate bush variety requires little maintenance and
produces fruits that are more resistant to cracking. ‘Terenzo’ is loaded with a
bountiful harvest of flavorful, easy-to-pick fruits throughout the summer heat.
Bred by Pro-Veg Seeds Ltd.
