These winners -- eight flowers and four vegetables -- will all be available during the upcoming growing season. Seeds will be available in 1999 catalogs and already-started transplants will be offered at garden centers. Ask for them or look for the red,white and blue All-America Selections' emblem where plants are sold.
Of the 12, two zinnia varieties are distinguished even more with Gold Medal All-America Selections. Gold medals are reserved for breeding breakthroughs, according to AAS Executive Director Nona Koivula. The zinnias are "Profusion Orange" and "Profusion Cherry," which are said to set new standards for garden zinnias. They not only exhibit tolerance to many foliar diseases, such as powdery mildew and bacterial leaf spot (which are common in zinnias), but have superior garden performance.
These zinnias produce sungle, daisy-like flowers 2 to 3 inches across. Plants reach 12 to 18 inches high and spread slightly more than their height. They are free flowering all season, with no need to deadhead.
Other winners include:
-- "Pin-Up Flame" begonia. This is the first begonia ever to win an AAS Award. It features a unique, dramatic bicolor, previously unavailable. The large single flowers are yellow, edged and shaded red/orange. The red/orange edge can vary, adding diversity to the bicolor design. Blooms are 2-4 inches and plant height is around 12 inches.
-- "Flamenco" tritoma. This perennial, Knifphofia uvaria, is more commonly known as red hot poker. This old-fashioned border plant features creamy white, orange, yellow and red flowers on tubular stalks.
-- "Bonanza Bolero" marigold. This is an improved dwarf, French marigold. It is distinct for its irregular gold and red bicolor pattern.
-- "Passion Mix" osteospermum. Single, daisy-like flowers with azure blue center are the feature here. Flowers are pink, rose, purple or pure white.
-- "Sundial Peach" portulaca. The first portulaca AAS winner features a unique glowing peach color. It is unmatched as a single color and the flower size is improved to 2 inches.
-- "Quartz Burgundy" verbena. A deep wine red color with a small white eye is the unique feature of this verbena.
-- "Eight Ball" squash. Unlike the billiard ball, this "Eight Ball" is the first round summer squash with dark zucchini greenskin. It's also been improved for earliness, with harvest in five to six weeks.
-- "Wee-B-Little" pumpkin. This true miniature orange pumpkin is a unique size weighing 8 to 16 ounces. They're ideal for small children to handle, and are the typical jack-o-lantern shape.
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