February 5, 2003
Woodbury Bulletin
Betsy Halden

All-America Award Winners for 2003

Each year the All-America Selection (AAS) awards are made to plants. Ten new flower cultivars were given All-America Selection awards for 2003. To receive this award, a selection must possess unique or improved characteristics compared to existing varieties. The large number of award winners makes this year a great opportunity to try some new flowers. You can look for AAS seeds in the new seed catalogues or possibly find the plants in garden stores later in the spring. Here are brief descriptions of the 2003 All-America Selection award recipients.

‘Prairie Sun’ Rudbeckia
This low-maintenance, full-sun annual provides many flowers on long stems which are ideal for cutting. The 5-inch golden yellow blooms have a light green central cone. Plants are best used in the middle of plantings. They reach a height of 3 feet and spread 12 to 16 inches in width.

‘Purple Majesty’ Ornamental Millet
This ornamental millet reaches a height of 3 to 5 feet with attractive 8- to 12- inch long purple flower spikes. The young leaves are green but turn purple in a full-sun location. ‘Purple Majesty’ is tolerant of heat and low-moisture conditions. It grows well in containers and can be used to attract birds.

‘Can Can Scarlet’ Carnation
If you are looking for a plant that is heat tolerant and has a lovely fragrance, consider ‘Can Can Scarlet’ carnation. Bright scarlet 2-inch blooms provide a display of color in flowerbeds or in a bouquet. Plants reach a height of 14 inches and spread 6 to 8 inches. ‘Can Can Scarlet’ grows best in full sun.

‘Corona Cherry Magic’ Dianthus
‘Corona Cherry Magic’ dianthus provides unexpected colors. The bicolor pattern of the 2-inch cherry red and lavender/pink flowers vary from one solid color to picotees. The 8- to 10- inch wide rounded plants grow to a height of 7 to 9 inches. ‘Can Can Magic’ flowers throughout the summer in a full sun location.

‘Merlin Blue Morn’ Petunia
The dark blue/purple and white bicolored blooms of ‘Merlin Blue Morn’ are attractive in hanging baskets, containers or flowerbeds. Two-inch blooms cover the plant. ‘Merlin Blue Morn’ reaches a height of 15 to 20 inches and spreads 18 to 20 inches. It performs best in full sun.

‘Golden Jubilee’ Hyssop
The lime green leaves of ‘Golden Jubilee’ cover symmetrical branching plants adorned with dense pikes of lavender-blue florets. ‘Golden Jubilee’ hyssop is heat tolerant, attains a height of 20 inches, spreads 10 to 15 inches across, and has a mint-like fragrance that emanates from the leaves when crushed. The plant grows best in full sun.

‘Forever White’ Lisianthus
‘Forever White’ is an ideal plant for containers. It grows 12 to 14 inches high and has 2-inch ivory white blooms which cover the plant at various times during the growing season. This outstanding lisianthus is heat and low-moisture tolerant.

‘Sundance Bicolor’ Gaillardia
‘Sundance Bicolor’ is the first consistent mahogany red and yellow bicolor. Blooms are globe shaped and primarily double. The plant grows 10 to 15 inches high, spreads 15 - 16 inches, and performs best in a moist, full-sun location with moderately fertile soil. ‘Sundance Bicolor’ would be good for hanging baskets and containers.

‘Blue Wave’ Petunia
The waves keep coming! ‘Blue Wave’ is the most recent addition to the wave series. Two-inch dark blue-purple flowers cover the trailing vine-like stems of the plant during the growing season. Unlike many petunias, it is not necessary to prune or pinch the plant to keep it actively blooming. As with the other petunia waves, ‘Blue Wave’ attains a spread of 3 to 4 feet and reaches a height of 6 to 7 inches. It grows best in moderately fertile soil in a sunny location. ‘Purple Wave,’ another All-America Selection winner, was the first wave to be selected in 1992.

‘Jaio Dark Red’ Rose Periwinkle
‘Jaio Dark Red’ is the first true red rose periwinkle or vinca. A rugged plant, it is heat and drought tolerant, grows about 15 inches high and spreads to 20 inches. This eye-catching rose periwinkle with two-inch wide blooms will not perform in a shaded location with moist soil. It prefers a full sun location that is slightly on the dry side.

Betsy Halden is a resident of Woodbury. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net.