AAS Winners for 2017

Ellen C. Wells

All-America Selections released another 11 winners for 2017 recently, bringing the total number of varieties receiving AAS Winner designation for 2017 to 16. It’s a colorful bunch, too, but being a winner is about more than color. It’s about performance, with each variety being trialed side by side with comparative varieties considered best-in-class. So to be a winner, you’ve got to be more than good. You’ve got to be great.

What I like about the AAS winners over the last few years is the fact there have been a fair number of vegetables. This year is no different. AAS-winning vegetables in this group include:

• Fennel Antares—A national winner bred by Bejo Seed

• Pepper Mad Hatter—A national winner bred by PanAmerican Seed

• Tomato Chef’s Choice Yellow—A Southeast region winner bred by Seeds by Design

• Tomato Patio Choice Yellow—A national winner bred by Seeds by Design

Ornamental winners for 2017 include some new colors in series that have excellent reputations, as well as some newbies:

• Dianthus Supra Pink—A national winner bred by Hem Genetics

• Geranium Calliope Medium Dark Red—A national winner bred by Syngenta Flowers

• Penstemon Twizzle Purple—A Heartland and Southeast regions winner bred by Van Hemert & Co.

• Verbena EnduraScape Pink Bicolor—A national winner bred by Ball FloraPlant

• Vinca Mega Bloom Orchid Halo and Pink Halo—Both national winners and both bred by AmeriSeed

• Zinnia Profusion Red—A national winner bred by Sakata Seed

These varieties will receive a full court press of consumer-focused communications in the next few months. Be prepared! As usual, AAS has bench cards and variety markers for download from the AAS website. Posters can be ordered from GardenCenterMarketing.com. GP