2010 All America Selections Flower Display Garden
The All America Selections (AAS) is a national program to select the best of the new varieties each year. The flowers below represent some of the most recent winners and other new introductions, and are primarily annuals. (www.all-americaselections.org) Previous year’s results and photos can be found online. (perrysperennials.info/aaswp.html) This garden was a national award winner in 2008 among AAS display gardens.
We are especially pleased and thankful this year once again for many new “specialty annuals” (those generally grown from cuttings and not seeds) provided by two wholesale greenhouse propagators in New Hampshire—Pleasant View Gardens (PVG) and DS Cole Growers (DSC). The PVG annuals are from their Proven Winners and Proven Selections series. Those from DSC are from several other brand name series. A few seed selections are from elsewhere (B=Burpee, P=Parks, JS=Johnny’s Seeds).
|
Flower |
Source |
Rating* |
Comments |
|
Angelonia Adessa Bicolor |
DSC |
2 |
Summer snapdragon, sparse flowers |
|
Angelonia Angelface Blue Improved |
PVG |
2 |
Few flowers |
|
Angelonia Angelface Pink Improved |
PVG |
3 |
Some flowers hidden by leaves |
|
Argyranthemum Reflection Pink |
DSC |
2 |
Cobbity daisy, poor flowers |
|
Argyranthemum Reflection Yellow Cream |
DSC |
2 |
Small and ununiform flowers |
|
Bacopa Gulliver Blue Sensation |
DSC |
2 |
Sutera, sparse growth and flowers |
|
Banana (Ensete) maurelli |
DSC |
3* |
2-3ft. high |
|
Begonia Sparkle Scarlet |
DSC |
2 |
Poor vigor |
|
Bidens (ferulifolia) Goldilocks Rocks |
PVG |
2 |
Bur marigold, sparse flowers |
|
Black Varnish Plant (Pseuderanthemum rubrum) |
DSC |
2 |
Wax Acanthus, good leaves, little branching |
|
Calibrachoa Callie Light Blue |
DSC |
3 |
Trailing petunia |
|
Calibrachoa Callie Painted Coral |
DSC |
3 |
Good bicolor |
|
Calibrachoa Minifamous Dark Pink & Eye |
DSC |
3 |
Good flowering |
|
Calibrachoa Minifamous Purple |
DSC |
3 |
Dense, many flowers |
|
Calibrachoa Superbells Blackberry
Punch |
PVG |
2 |
Sparse flowers |
|
Calibrachoa Superbells Coralberry
Punch |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Canna Magic series |
DSC |
2 |
Good leaves, flowers ununiform/sparse |
|
Cardoon (Cynara) |
DSC |
3* |
Globe Artichoke |
|
Carex Rekohu Sunrise |
DSC |
3* |
Ornamental sedge |
|
Coleus Alabama Sunset |
DSC |
3 |
New genus: Solenostemon |
|
Coleus Alligator Tears |
PVG |
2 |
Small plants |
|
Coleus Kiwi Fern |
DSC |
3* |
Uniform, flowers readily |
|
Coleus Spitfire |
PVG |
3* |
Dense, uniform |
|
Cuphea Vienco Lavender |
DSC |
3* |
Cuphea, 15-18in. high |
|
Dahlia Dahlinova California |
DSC |
1 |
No flowers, few buds, compact |
|
Dahlia Mystic Illusion |
PVG |
3 |
Ununiform height, dark leaves nice with yellow flowers |
|
Dianthus Supra Purple |
AAS |
2 |
2006 winner, small plants, few flowers |
|
Diascia Diamonte Coral Rose |
AAS |
3 |
Twinspur, 2006 winner, uniform habit and flowers |
|
Euphorbia Breathless Blush |
DSC |
3* |
Spurge, good red leaf marking |
|
Fiber Optic Grass (Isolepis) Live Wire |
DSC |
1 |
No new growth, ununiform |
|
Gaillardia Mesa Yellow |
AAS |
3* |
Blanket flower, 2010 winner, large flowers |
|
Gaura Bellaza Dark Pink |
DSC |
2 |
Beeblossom, good habit, few flowers |
|
Heliotrope Simply Scentsational |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Iberis Absolutely Amethyst |
PVG |
1 |
Sweet Alyssum (perennial), no flowers |
|
Ipomoea Desana
Lime |
DSC |
3 |
Ornamental Sweet Potato |
|
Ipomoea Desana
Maple |
DSC |
3 |
Some insect damage |
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline
Bewitched |
PVG |
3 |
Less spreading |
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline
Bronze |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline
Green Yellow |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline
Light Green |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline
Purple |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline Red |
PVG |
1 |
Less vigorous, overrun by others |
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline Sweeheart Light Green |
PVG |
3 |
Mounded |
|
Ipomoea Sweet Caroline
Sweetheart Red |
PVG |
3 |
|
|
Juncus (inflexus) Graceful Grasses Blue Mohawk |
PVG |
3* |
Ornamental rush, upright, vase shape, 2ft. high |
|
Juncus Lemon Twist |
DSC |
3 |
Yellow variegated twisted leaves, 6in. x 6in. |
|
Koeleria (glauca) Tiny Tot |
PVG |
3 |
Blue hair grass, uniform, 6in. high x 8in. wide |
|
Leucanthemum Daisy May |
PVG |
2 |
Shasta daisy, ununiform heights and flowering |
|
Lobelia Lucia Lavender Blush |
PVG |
1 |
Few flowers |
|
Lobelia Techno Heat Dark Blue |
DSC |
2 |
No leaves |
|
Marigold (African) Moonsong Deep Orange |
AAS |
3* |
2011 winner |
|
Mecardonia Gold Dust |
PVG |
3 |
Axilflower, some dieback, disease? |
|
Nemesia Angelart Almond |
DSC |
1 |
Nemesia, no flowers, poor vigor and leaves |
|
Nemesia Angelart Raspberry |
DSC |
1 |
Almost dead, no flowers |
|
Nemesia Sunsatia Coconut Improved |
PVG |
2 |
Sparse flowers |
|
Nemesia Sunsatia Cranberry Improved |
PVG |
3 |
Bright color |
|
Nicotiana Perfume Deep Purple |
AAS |
3 |
Flowering Tobacco, 2006 winner |
|
Ornamental Millet Jade Princess |
B |
3* |
Pennisetum glaucum, robust, showy |
|
Ornamental Millet Purple Majesty |
AAS |
2 |
2003 winner, ununiform |
|
Ornamental Pepper Black Pearl |
AAS |
3* |
2006 winner, 12-15in. high |
|
Osteospermum Asti White |
AAS |
2 |
South African Daisy, 2008 winner, sparse flowers |
|
Osteospermum Flowerpower Lavender |
DSC |
2 |
Sparse flowers |
|
Osteospermum Voltage Yellow |
DSC |
1 |
Poor vigor, few flowers |
|
Osteospermum Zion Pink Sand |
DSC |
1 |
Poor vigor, few flowers |
|
Pennisetum (setaceum) Fireworks |
PVG |
3* |
Foxtail grass, great new bright color, masses well |
|
Pennisetum Graceful Grasses Vertigo |
PVG |
3* |
Overpowering vigor, robust, 4ft. high |
|
Petunia Double Wave Blue |
DSC |
3 |
Fills area well, self-cleaning |
|
Petunia Opera Supreme Pink Morn |
AAS |
3 |
2006 winner |
|
Petunia Supertunia Indigo Charm |
PVG |
3 |
Good flowers, self-cleaning |
|
Petunia Supertunia Sangria Charm |
PVG |
3* |
Good and many flowers |
|
Phlox Intensia Blueberry |
PVG |
2 |
Ununiform habit |
|
Ruby Silk grass (Eragrostis) |
JS |
2 |
Flops, nice reddish “flowers” |
|
Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy |
P |
3 |
Some petal damage, great color |
|
Rudbeckia Indian Summer |
AAS |
3 |
1995 winner |
|
Rudbeckia Prairie Sun |
AAS |
3* |
2003 winner, uniform |
|
Rudbeckia Tiger Eye hybrid |
B |
3* |
Uniform, low 12-15in. high |
|
Salvia (farinacea) Evolution |
AAS |
2 |
Sage, 2006 winner, poor flowers |
|
Salvia (splendens) Lighthouse Red |
PVG |
1 |
Small plants, no flowers; better elsewhere in mixed tub |
|
Snapdragon Twinny Peach |
AAS |
1 |
2010 winner |
|
Succulents (Echeveria and others) |
DSC |
3 |
|
|
Verbena Lanai Lavender Star |
DSC |
3* |
Very uniform, good flower pattern |
|
Verbena Lanai Purple Star |
DSC |
2 |
Ununiform flowers, some reverse colors |
|
Verbena Superbena Royale Chambray |
PVG |
3* |
Uniform flowering height |
|
Viola Rain Blue and Purple |
AAS |
1 |
2009 winner, small plants, few flowers |
|
Viola Skippy XL Plum Gold |
AAS |
1 |
2008 winner, small plants, few flowers |
|
Viola Skippy XL Red Gold |
AAS |
1 |
2006 winner, small plants, few flowers |
|
Zinnia Double Zahara Cherry |
AAS |
2 |
2011 winner, ununiform flowers, dead flowers detract |
|
Zinnia Double Zahara Fire |
AAS |
3* |
2011 winner, some leaves hide flowers |
|
Zinnia Zahara
Starlight Rose |
AAS |
2 |
2010 winner, ununiform flowers, dead flowers detract |
|
Zinnia Zowie Yellow Flame |
AAS |
1 |
2006 winner, few flowers, ununiform, leaf disease |
*Plants were rated Aug. 17, on a scale of d=dead, 1=poor, 3= excellent habit and flowering. Ratings reflect growth in new beds from previous years, and with extremes of drought and rain. Several plants starting the season did not survive holiday crowds so are not listed. Plants noted * were exceptional or tops in their genus.
A cooperative program of the Burlington Dept. of Parks and Recreation and University of Vermont Extension (Dr. Leonard Perry). Appreciation is expressed to the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association, New England Grows, and the Burlington Garden Club for funding and support.
Photos, videos, and past results are available online (perrysperennials.info/aaswp.html).