All America Selection Winners 2007

All America Selections is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year and have been instrumental in helping home gardeners decide on superior new varieties to try in their gardens.

Each year All America Selection judges rate newly introduced plants at their trail garden locations and select winners based on average scores. Judges consider such factors as unusual flower form, color, or vegetable taste, earliness of harvest, disease and pest resistance, how well the plant produces and overall performance and ease of growth.

2007 All America Selection Flower Award Winner Celosia ‘Fresh Look Gold’

• Celosia plumosa ‘Fresh Look Gold’ has very intense color over the entire season with bright yellow flower plumes. Like all Celosia plants ‘Fresh Look Gold’ is grown for the stunning flowers that are very eye-catching in a mixed border or container. Celosia plants prefer fertile, well-drained soil but will tolerate even poor, rocky or sandy soils. Celosias make excellent cut flowers because the flower plumes stay fresh looking for a long time. Celosia also prefers full sun but once flowering can be brought indoors and enjoyed as a houseplant for several weeks before the blooms begin to fade.

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

• Petunia x hybrida ‘Opera Supreme Pink Morn’ was awarded a winning spot because of the iridescent pink color previously unseen in a trailing petunia. This petunia will bloom within 100 days of planting the seeds. More detailed information can be found in this article by Connie Krochmal.

2007 All America Selection Bedding Plant Award Winner Vinca ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’

• Catharanthus roseus ‘Pacifica Burgundy Halo’ was selected for its unique color in the large-flowering type of vinca plants. This vinca is an unusual burgundy with a large white eye, or center, and will bloom only 60 days after sowing. Compact and perfect for edging pathways the vinca is 12″ x 12″. Vinca seeds require total darkness to germinate but also need warmth so seeds are best started indoors. Vinca prefers full sun but in areas with very hot summers will appreciate afternoon shade. Vinca prefers slightly acidic soil but will tolerate almost any soil if well-drained, and is rather drought tolerant once established.

2007 All America Selection Vegetable Award Winner Pepper F1 ‘Holy Mole’

• Capsicum annuum ‘Holy Mole’ is an unusual pepper that is a rich brown color when mature. It is a Pasilla type pepper but more vigorous, productive and matures in only 120 days. The pepper plant will grow 20″ tall and the peppers themselves mature at over 7″ long. Like all peppers ‘Holy Mole’ prefers full sun and makes an ornamental addition not only to the vegetable garden, but to any edible landscape design.