All America Selections is the place to go for the next best thing to guaranteed success in your garden. AAS has celebrated more than 75 years of providing those plants to gardeners that are tested nationally and proven locally. Each year AAS tests a number of plants that are evaluated by a network of independent judges who determine which plants exhibit superior garden performance. For gardeners, this is a great bit of advice to help us in achieving success in our gardens.
Another sunflower has been awarded the 2014 Bedding Plant Award. Sunflower Suntastic Yellow with Black Center F1 is a great dwarf sunflower that will produce up to 20 five- to six-inch flowers per plant. It is perfect for any sunny place whether it is in a container or as part of a border. It is naturally dwarf and compact and flowers in less than 65 days after sowing.
Angelonia Serenita Pink F1 is an easy to grow elegant flower that is perfect for beginner gardeners. Grown in a group it creates a soothing sea of soft colour that is tolerant to heat, and resistant to deer and rabbits. It will grow 12 to 14 inches tall and wide.
There is a special appeal of flowers that bring an airy elegance to the garden. Gaura Sparkle White has long slender stems covered with dainty white flowers with just a hint of pink blush. It is a long season bloomer with excellent heat tolerance. It not only got a bedding plant award but is also the recipient of Europe's Fleuro Select Gold Medal for garden performance.
Impatiens New Guinea Florific Sweet Orange F1 is also a Bedding Plant Award Winner and brings to your garden masses of large, uniquely bicoloured flowers in shades of light salmon to deep orange. It is resistant to downy mildew and should provide bright colour in the garden all season. This impatiens also was a recipient to Europe's Fleuro Select Gold Medal for garden performance.
Osteospermum Akila Daisy White F1 is a beautiful white osteo with a yellow centre. It is easily grown from seed and is a tidy, uniform plant with open flowers that keep blooming all summer long. It is not bothered by the heat and is more drought tolerant than other osteos. This selection is also the recipient of Europe's Fleuro Select Gold Medal for garden performance.
Penstemon Arabesque Red F1 is an essential annual for your garden. It is unique, vigorous and shows off a beautiful red and white bicoloured large bell shaped flowers. It attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds all summer long. Plant in full sun and remove spent flowers to encourage continuous flowering.
Ornamental Pepper NuMex Easter is a compact, but well branched plant that proudly displays small clusters of fruits on the plant that range from lavender to light yellow and mature fully to a light orange. It is an excellent choice for pots, on patio or for outdoor use.
Watch for the column next week that will feature some of the other 2014 winners.
