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All-America Selections for Flowers and Edibles
Jessie Liebenguth Reiman Gardens
Jessie LiebenguthHorticulturist, Reiman GardensISU Hort
GradProfessional interests include roses, high-consequence pests
and pathogens, & annual productionAAS, American Garden Rose
Selections judge
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Reiman GardensOpened in 199517 acres south of campus (1.1 miles
from the Hansen Ag Learning Center)Plant Collections Network
collection holder Buck RosesFocus on education, butterflies, and
natural beauty
2017 Theme: WATER!All annual plantings and programming themed
around waterWashed Ashore Art to Save the Sea9 large sculptures and
one large jelly bloom, late April through October
What is All-America Selections?
A non-profit organization, founded in 1932 by Ray Hastings, that
promotes new garden varieties judged to have superior garden
performance in impartial trials throughout North America.
AAS is the oldest, and most trusted national trialing
organization in North America, supported by breeding companies.
EntriesBreeders enter new, never-before-sold cultivars to be
judged in one of four categories:
Seed Ornamentals (flowers & foliage grown from
seed)Vegetative Ornamentals (flowers & foliage grown from
cuttings)Edible/Vegetables from Seed (self-explanatory!)Herbaceous
Perennials (perennials that die back each fall/winter) (trial lasts
three winters)
Entry Description example
AAS Trials Sites in U.S. and CanadaSeed Ornamentals 40
sitesEdible/Vegetable 28 sitesVegetative Ornamentals 18
sitesHerbaceous Perennials 24 sites
Total of 80 AAS Trial Judges!
AAS Trial Site: Dallas Arboretum
AAS Trial Site: Rotary Botanical Gardens
AAS Trial Site: Green Bay Botanical Garden
AAS Trial Site: Reiman Gardens
AAS Trial Site: Reiman Gardens
AAS Trial Site: Reiman GardensOrnamental trials since 2012Edible
trials since 2014Perennials added in 2016
Horticulture professionals Seasoned trialing experts Unpaid they
volunteer their time Unbiased - cannot judge their own entries The
core of our success
AAS Trial Judges
Score Sheet example
What qualities make an AAS Winner?Better tasting
vegetablesLonger blooming annualsSuperior disease resistanceUnique
colors or qualitiesMore flowers or fruits per plant
AAS Winners must out-perform other similar varieties on the
market in order to win the AAS Winner designation
After the Trial;Introduction CriteriaBreeder gives the variety a
marketing nameBreeder submits publicity photosSeed/Cuttings in
inventoryGermination tests results are submittedProduct is priced
and ready to ship
Now it can be declared an AAS Winner
Publicity After IntroductionTo: Seed Companies Distribution
chain Growers Retailers Garden Writers Bloggers Consumers
Announcement of the 1934 AAS Annuals Winners
1934 AAS Winners announced by Ray Hastings32 Flower Winners
including 6 Gold12 Vegetable Winners including 3 Gold
Originally there were 3 types of AAS Awards Bronze, Silver, and
Gold. In 1984 the AAS Board of Directors, deciding the award types
were too confusing, eliminated the bronze and silver awards. There
are now two awards, an AAS Award and a Gold Medal AAS Award which
is reserved for a breeding breakthrough.
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Publicity ProgramRobust website:
Publicity ProgramImplementing Social Media: Pinterest Facebook
Instagram Twitter Slide Share Etc.
Publicity ProgramDisplay Gardens
Almost 200 public gardens grow and display the past five years
of AAS Winners.
Display Garden: Dallas Arboretum
Display Garden: Denver Botanic Gardens
Display Garden: Michigan State University
Display Garden: Miami University, Hamilton Conservatory
Display Garden: University of Saskatchewan
Display Garden: University of Delaware
Display Garden: MSU South Mississippi State University
1950AAS Gold Medal Petunia Firechief
1950 AAS Gold Medal Winner Petunia Firechief bred by Bodger Seed
Company set the standard for red petunias, being rich red and
fading to asoft red color; unlike modern petunias, these are
fragrant and is still available from a few sources in 2013.
1950 AAS Vegetable Winners all are still available in 2013Snap
Bean Top Crop Gold Medal WinnerSquash Uconn Gold Medal
WinnerWatermelon Congo
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Firechief still available today!
Old favorites?
Old favorites?
Arizona Apricot Gaillardia (2012)
PowWow Wild Berry Echinancea (2010)
Old favorites?
Black Pearl ornamental pepper (2006)
Golden Jubilee Agastache (2003)
Old favorites?
Fiesta Del Sol Tithonia (2000)
Bright Lights Swiss chard (1998)
Old favorites?
Purple Ruffles basil (1987)
Buttercruch lettuce (1963)
All-America Selections 2017 Winners
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Celosia Asian Garden2017 Ornamental Seed Winner
Early to bloomBushy habit, great branchingSturdy stems support
numerous bloomsBright pink colorPollinator magnet31-40 tall
Celosia Asian Garden
Dianthus Supra Pink2017 Ornamental Seed Winner
Easy-to-growInterspecificUnique mottled pink colored
bloomsCompact, busy plant with prolific flowers that blooms for
three seasonsNo deadheading needed
Dianthus Supra Pink
Fennel Antares F12017 Edible Winner
First fennel winner for AAS!Multiple uses: edible bulb,
ornamental fronds, seed producer, pollinator favoriteUniform, pure
white bulbsMuch improved, almost sweet flavor7-10 days slower to
bolt
Geranium Calliope Medium Dark Red2017 Ornamental Vegetative
Winner
Velvety, deep red flower colorZonal type flowers and
leavesMounded, semi- spreading habitLoaded with blossomsWorks great
in containers and hanging baskets as well as landscapes
Okra Candle Fire F12017 Edible Winner
Unique round pods. Can be used as an ornamental. Easy to
grow.Crispy and slightly sweet in salads,Soft, tender when
boiled.Fruit size: 4-5 long
Pea Patio Pride2017 Edible Winner
Compact form good for container gardens & small spaces
Sweet, tender, uniform podsEarly to mature (40 days)Winner in
Southeast
Penstemon barbatus Twizzle Purple F12017 Ornamental Seed
Winner
Vibrant purple blooms, unique colorFirst-year flowering
perennialUpright plant habitExcellent flowering performanceNorth
American native (nativar)Pollinator-friendly
Pepper Mad Hatter F12017 Edible Winner
Unique, exotic pepperSouth American nativeNovel shapeDeliciously
sweet taste with notes of citrus and floralLow to no heatVigorous,
robust plantsEasy to grow
Squash, Winter Honey Baby2017 Edible Winner
Very productive, compact plant with shorter vines (2-3)Semi-bush
habitPowdery mildew resistantSweet, nutty, meaty fleshSteam, bake
or use in soups and stews8-9 fruits per plant
Tomato Chefs Choice Yellow F12017 Edible Winner
4th in series of Chefs Choice tomatoesLarge meaty fruitsSweet
citrusy flavor, low acidity9-10 ounce fruitsDisease resistant5
indeterminate vines
Tomato Patio Choice Yellow F12017 Edible Winner
Compact determinate tomato specifically for small spaces and
container gardensLarge yieldsBright yellow cherry tomatoesOver 100
fruits per plant!
Verbena EnduraScape Pink Bicolor2017 Ornamental Vegetative
Winner
Tough as nails verbenaTolerates drought and heatAlso survives
temps down to low teensLong bloomingUnique bicolor bloomsVigorous
plants
Vinca MegaBloom Orchid Halo F12017 Ornamental Seed Winner
Exciting new series of vincaWithstands heat and humidity without
diseaseBright, rich purple blooms with white eyeStriking landscape
displayEarly to bloom, uniform and compact in the greenhouse
Vinca MegaBloom Pink Halo F12017 Ornamental Seed Winner
Exciting new series of vincaWithstands heat and humidity without
diseaseHuge soft pink blooms with white eyeStriking landscape
displayEarly to bloom, uniform and compact in the greenhouse
Watermelon Mini Love F12017 Edible Winner
Asian watermelon well adapted for small gardens & patio.
Good choice for culinary gardeners.Sweet refreshing taste, few
seeds7-9 pound melons3 vines with up to 6 fruits per plant
Zinnia Profusion Red2017 Ornamental Seed Winner
Fourth color in single flowered Profusion series to win AAS
awardCompact formDiseases resistantContinuous blooms all season
longPerfect, deep red flower color does not
fadePollinator-friendlyUniform plants, outstanding greenhouse
performance
Zinnia Profusion Red (compare with Profusion Cherry and Zahara
Red!!)
Prizm Kale
Cornito Giallo Pepper
Escamillo Pepper
Pepitas Pumpkin
Delizz Strawberry
Candyland Red Tomato
Chefs Choice Green Tomato
Harvest Moon Watermelon
Black Olive Ornamental Pepper
NuMex Easter ornamental pepper
Jams N Jellies Blackberry Vinca
Thank [email protected]
294-7610
See you at the trials!!
