THE ALL - AMERICA FLOWER SELECTIONS FOR 2002
With patriotism reach a new high in recent months , planting All - America Selections ( AAS ) flowers in the garden seems very appropriate . And you have plenty of selection this year as eight new sort have bring in the AAS naming for 2002 , along with five vegetables for a total of 13 winners .
How does a prime become an AAS winner ? Each yr promising novel diverseness , as determined by plant breeders and seed producers , are trialed at more than 60 sites across the res publica . Those that outstrip alike live varieties earn the statute title , “ All - AmericaSelections ” succeeder .
One of the requirements to be a victor is that the flower must bloom well in the first year . In the past , this limit the winner to annuals , which only blossom for one year . But with recent reproduction improvement , new recurrent potpourri are being modernise that not only bloom well the first twelvemonth from seeding ( unlike most perennial ) , but will winter to bloom yearafter yr .
The 2002 AAS victor include two petunias , ‘ Lavender Wave ’ and ‘ Tidal Wave Silver . ’ The first is a flowering primer masking , which spring up to only six inches high but may disseminate four metrical foot , forming a dense mat of two - in lavender peak . It does not require pinching or prune like most petunias and will stomach heat and severe weather . This variety opt full sun and alimentary - rich soil and can be grown in hanging baskets and window box or as a ground plant .
‘ Tidal Wave Silver ’ differs from other petunias in flower coloring and increase substance abuse . The flower are exceptionally attractive , changing from a silver white-hot to a faint lavender with a glowering purple pharynx and slight veins . The flora grows into a monumental wave ( thus , the name ) of flowers about 16 to 36 inches tall , depending on garden spacing . Taller plants may require trellising . Like ‘ Lavender wafture , ’ no pruning or pinching back is need .
Geranium ‘ Black Magic Rose ’ made the leaning for its strange foliage and exceptional vigor . It is the first hybrid geranium with dark cocoa - colored leaf center with green edges . The shining rose florets have a white center and are about one and one - half column inch in diameter . For the just result , found this prolific flub in full Sunday .
Cleome ‘ Sparkler Blush , ’ the first dwarf cleome , is the perfect choice for small garden spaces . This onetime - fashioned yearly can be grown from seed or plants and grows to a height of three human foot although involve no staking . The florets are one and one - half column inch in diam and pink in color maturate to white . The leafage is an attractive dark green .
The first pansy with blue and yellow bicolor bloom and grim “ hair , ” Pansy ‘ Ultima Morpho , ’ also was take as a 2002 AAS winner . In addition to its singular pastel blooms , which drift in colour from all downhearted to in the main yellowed and everything in between , this plant is a joy to mature because it is heat - tolerant , a fecund bloomer , and can be started from seed . It develop five to nine inches mellow and gets its strange name from the Morpho butterfly , which has the same coloration .
Vinca ‘ Jaio Scarlet Eye ’ has vibrant , scarlet red , two - in flowers with rosaceous feeling , a raw coloring material for the genus Vinca family . Bloom is continuous from May until a kill frost , making it an ideal plant life for an one-year garden or to tally colour to a perennial bed . This genus Vinca , which light upon a pinnacle of about a human foot at full maturity , is heat and drought - tolerant . It need no pinching back . It can be originate from seed although it grows slowly and needs temperatures of 75 degrees or higher to get establish .
A coneflower also earned a speckle among the AAS victor this year . RudbeckiaHirta ‘ Cherokee Sunset ’ produce gorgeous double and semi - duple flowers inautumn colorslike bronze , yellow , orange , and mahogany . Flowers are about four inches in sizing and grow on plants 24 to 30 inch tall . Some staking may be needed as the plants are upright and branching . This perennial makes an first-class cut prime although it may not overwinter well in cold climates like Vermont .
The final winner for 2002 is Ornamental Pepper ‘ Chilly Chili . ’ Although the two - inch tapered capsicum are comestible , most gardener develop this decorative plant for autumn centerpiece , wreaths , and other trade . The bantam crimson , yellow , and Orange River capsicum pepper plant also add colouring to the annual garden or container plantings . The eight to 12 - inch plant favour full sun and will tolerateextreme heat and humidness .
All these flowers are available through mail service - parliamentary procedure catalog and at garden centers , either as potted plants or seeds . Look for the red , white , and gloomy cuticle logo , the sign of an AAS success .
ByDr . Leonard PerryExtension Nursery and Greenhouse Crops SpecialistUniversity of Vermont
