2006 

 All America Selections Winners 



Anew trial category was 

 created for the 2006 contest. 

 The goal was to test flower's 

 performance in cool conditions. The 

 AAS Cool Season Bedding Plants 

 Trial is conducted in the fall and 

 spring during 14 months of testing. 

 AAS Cool Season Bedding 

 Plant Judges evaluate entries 

 in the greenhouse and outdoors 

 for improved performance. 

 Qualities such as length of 

 bloom, cold tolerance, winter 

 hardiness and spring recovery 

 are evaluated. 



Flowers that can be tested 

 in the Cool Season Bedding 

 Plant trial category are alyssum, 

 bellis, calendula, campanula, 

 ornamental cabbage or kale, 

 carnation, delphinium, dianthus, 

 lobelia, lupine, pansy, poppy, 

 ranunculus, snapdragon, stock, 

 sweet pea, or viola. 



Gardeners in the South can 

 rely upon Cool Season Bedding 

 Plant award winners to perform 

 during the winter months. In the 

 North, gardeners will be able to 

 use these AAS Winners and extend 

 the colorful growing season into the 

 fall. 



The two Cool Season Bedding Plant 

 Award Winners are: 



Diascia 'Diamonte Coral Rose" 



Botanical name: Diascia 

 integerimma. The first Fl hybrid 

 diascia, "Diamonte Coral Rose' 

 is improved for early flowering, 

 branching habit, flower production. 



and length of bloom. 'Diamonte Coral 

 Rose' will flower within 60-70 days. 

 The 8- to 10-inch height and 18-inch 

 spreading habit is perfect for mixed 

 containers where a cascading plant is 

 desirable, or as a low edging plant in a 

 sunny garden. The one-inch rosy coral 



blooms are produced in spikes on all 

 sides of the plant. The frost tolerant 

 plants can be literally covered with 

 blooms. 



Viola, 'Skippy XL Red-Gold' 



Botanical name: Viola corniita 

 This isthe first Viola corinitaXov<j'mt\\Q 

 prestigiousAASAward. The improved 

 qualities are flower size, flower colors 

 and freedom of bloom. The large, 1 

 V2 inch, round flower appears to be a 



pansy, but it's a viola. The colors on 

 its bloom were designed by an artist. 

 They are ruby red with violet red 

 shading below the golden yellow face 

 containing penciling or whiskers. The 

 whiskers are an attribute of violas. 

 AAS Judges noticed the strong, dense 

 plant which exhibited heat 

 tolerance combined with winter 

 hardiness with protection. These 

 two traits result in improved 

 freedom of bloom and length 

 of the flowering season. When 

 mature, the plants will spread 8 

 inches and remain dwarf, about 

 6 inches tall. 



Two Varieties to Capture top 

 honors in the Bedding Plant 

 Award Category are: 



Dianthus Fl 'Supra Purple" 

 Botanical name: Dianthus 



interspecific. ' Supra 



Purple" bloomed early and 

 f exhibited exceptional garden 



performance to win the AAS 

 ^ Bedding Plant Award. This 



interspecific cross results 

 in hybrid vigor for improved heat 

 tolerance and prolific bloom. The 1 .5- 

 inch single purple flowers are lacy, 

 with highly fringed petal edges. In 

 full sun, 'Supra Purple' will reach 12 

 inches tall with an upright bouquet 

 habit spreading 10 inches. 'Supra 

 Purple' flowers can be cut for fresh 

 arrangements or enjoyed in the garden 

 during the long flowering period. 

 From sowing seed to bloom will be 

 about 10-12 weeks. 



WINTER 2005 



17 



