2011 AAS Seed Winners

Check out these new introductions that will be in our 2011 catalog. They are available for this spring, so call me with any questions!

Gaillardia ‘Arizona Apricot’
AAS Flower Award Winner

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 3.5 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.
AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Gailardia x grandiflora
Common name: Blanket flower
Unique qualities: Earlier flowering, unique color for gaillardia
Flower size: 3 to 3.5 inches
Flower form: Daisy-like single flower
Flower color: Apricot
Foliage color: Bright green
Plant height: 12 inches
Plant width: 12 inches
Garden location: Full sun
Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 90 days
Closest comparisons on market: ‘Granada’ and ‘Golden Goblin’





Ornamental Kale ‘Glamour Red’ F1
AAS Cool Season Bedding Plant Award Winner

This is All-America Selections’ first winning kale (edible or ornamental) in seventy-eight 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.
AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Brassica oleracea
Common name: Ornamental kale
Unique qualities: Non-waxy shiny leaves, brighter color tone
Flower size: Head size is 10 to 12 inches
Flower form: Fringed leaf type
Flower color: Purple
Foliage color: Green
Plant height: 12 inches
Plant width: 14 inches
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 12 inches apart
Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 90 days (for leaf coloring)
Closest comparisons on market: ‘Kamome Red’ and ‘Nagoya Red’



Salvia ‘Summer Jewel Red’
AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner

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.
AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Salvia coccinea
Common name: Hummingbird sage, Scarlet sage, Texas sage
Unique qualities: More compact and earlier to flower
Flower color: Bright red
Foliage color: Dark green
Flower form: Spike
Flower size: ½ inch
Plant height: 20 inches at most
Plant width: 16 inches
Plant type: Dwarf, branching
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 10 to 12 inches apart
Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 50 days
Closest comparisons on market: ‘Lady in Red’



Viola ‘Shangri-La Marina’ F1
AAS Cool Season Bedding Plant Award Winner

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.
AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Viola cornuta
Common name: Viola
Unique qualities: Early flowering, new color
Flower color: Marina (light blue with baby face)
Flower size: 1.25 inches
Flower form: Single flower
Foliage color: Green
Plant type: Low growing, mounding habit
Plant height: 6 inches
Plant width: 12 inches
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 8 inches apart
Length of time from sowing seed to flower: 70 days Frost tolerant
Closest comparison on market: ‘Four Seasons Cooler Improved’



Pumpkin ‘Hijinks’ F1
AAS Vegetable Award Winner

‘Hijinks,’ defined as lively enjoyment and unrestrained fun is an apt name for this pumpkin winner that offers loads of seasonal fun for kids. 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.

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Cucurbita pepo
Unique qualities: Uniform shape and size, easy harvest, excellent stem attachment
Fruit size: 5.6 inches long, 7.4 inch diameter; 6 to 7 lbs.
Fruit color: Deep orange
Plant type: Typical long vines
Plant height: 2 feet
Plant width: Up to 15 feet
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: Allow 10 feet between rows of plants space plants 2 to 3 feet apart in row
Disease tolerances: Powdery mildew
Length of time to harvest: 100 days from sowing seed, 85 days from transplant
Closest comparisons on market: ‘Orange Smoothie’ and ‘Hybrid Pam’



Tomato ‘Lizzano’ F1
AAS Vegetable Award Winner

‘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.

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Solanum Lycopersicum
Unique qualities: First Late Blight tolerant cherry fruited semi-determinate variety on the market
Fruit size: 0.4 ounces
Fruit color: Red
Plant type: Semi-determinate small cherry, compact bush, trailing habit
Plant height: 16 to 20 inches
Plant width: 20 inches
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 20 inches apart
Disease tolerances: Late Blight tolerant
Length of time to harvest: 63 days from transplant
Closest comparisons on market: ‘Tumbler’ and ‘Tumbling Tom Red’

Tomato ‘Terenzo’ F1
AAS Vegetable Award Winner

‘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 6.0% 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.

AAS® Winner Data
Genus species: Solanum lycopersicum
Unique qualities: Tidy trailing plant, easy-to-grow, little maintenance
Fruit size: 0.7 ounces
Fruit color: Red
Plant type: Determinate cherry, trailing habit
Plant height: 16 to 20 inches
Plant width: 20 inches
Garden location: Full sun
Garden spacing: 20 inches apart
Length of time to harvest: 56 days from transplant
Closest comparisons on market: ‘Tumbler’ and ‘Tumbling Tom Red’

I certainly look forward to trying these new varieties this spring, and I think your customers will enjoy them as well.

-JK