Oh boy, All America Selections has selected their winners in an array of categories but today, we're celebrating a few of their chosen Annuals!
A little history on AAS (edited) from their website: In 1932, W. Ray Hastings proposed the idea of All-America Selections as a way for home gardeners to learn which new varieties are truly improved. He encouraged all see companies to set up trial grounds, cooperatively test new varieties and agree to develop marketing efforts for new vegetables and flowers. He recommended a national network of trial grounds throughout North Americanclimats where flower and vegetable varieties would be grown and assessed by skilled, impartial judges. The first winners were announced in 1933 with 30 winners.
Snapdragon DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart F1 (2025)
This is one TOUGH beauty. Give it as much full sun as possible and water for the first 10 days after planting, then sit back and enjoy! DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart grows to 20 inches tall with flowers that last from spring to frost. Some Judges comments include: "The candy-like scent of the flowers is amazing!" and "Excellent performer. Comparable in height and flower size to it's comparison but longer lasting color in-ground. Very little to no disease present."
My take: STUNNING
Next up is a knockout...
Zinnia 'Zydeco Fire' (2025)
The inspiration for this disease resistant, long-lasting lovely was, accoring to AAS, inspired by the lively, foot-stomping music of Southwest Louisiana, this zinnia bursts with sunshine-bright fully double flowers that are noticeably larger than the comparisons.
Flowering from summer to fall, Zydeco Fire grows up 22 inches. Plant them about 12 inches apart to really fill out a sunny space. They will "knit together" for support. This from one of the Judges: "A winner from start to finish. Bloomed quickly and until frost with consistently double, large flowers. Plants stayed healthy and compact the whole season."