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."
In a pot or in your garden soil, these are gorgeous!
One more annual to whet your appetite for spring. As if those of us shivering in below zero weather NEED any encouragement. ;-) This one is really a showstopper.
Dahlia 'Black Forest Ruby' (2025)
The foliage on this dahlia is jet black. The ruby flowers on Black Forest Ruby range from semi-double to double and are scattered prolifically on this sturdy beauty. Growing to just over 2 ft tall with a 20-inch spread, it is suitable in the ground or in your favorite large pot. Place in full sun and enjoy from summer to frost. Among the Judges comments on it's amazing color and sturdiness was this: "Great habit, great heat and drought tolerance too". Our weather in Minnesota has been so unpredictable as our climate changes that the addition of heat and drought tolerance really makes this dahlia stand out even more. Deadheading is recommended for continued blooms.
Here's lookin' at you, bud! Do you see the bud at the bottom? I thought you might! Be sure to check out the AAS Winner website to see all the Annual winners for 2025 including some edibles too. There are a few new varieties of Nasturtiums (their flowers have a wonderful peppery taste), a Marigold, a couple of new Petunias, a Celosia and more.
Any plant that gives you joy is a winner in my book even when they are also favorites of rabbits. I have a few of those favorites and rabbits.
Have I told you I have a "pet" wild rabbit? I'm fully aware how weird that is for a gardener, but here's the deal, we named her. Don't ever do that if you are ready to take a pellet gun after their fluffy butts. Her name is Eve. It's an homage to Evander Holyfield as part of one of her ears is missing. For curious minds, in 1997 Mike Tyson bit off part of Holyfield's ear in the WBA Heavyweight Championship. PS, I talk to Eve and have given her wilted spinach and baby carrtos this winter. I've completely lost my mind. ;-)
Here's to losing yourself in nature,
The Garden Scoop