Titles Announced for AAS Awards: Sun-Inspired Hues and Palate-Pleasing Tastes
In a recent announcement by the All-America Selections (AAS), three new winners have been selected for their exceptional performance in multiple trial locations across the US and Canada. These new additions to the AAS family include Rudbeckia hirta 'ClaireTM Orange', Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sole Giatto', and Solanum lycopersicum 'BadaBing!'.
Rudbeckia hirta 'ClaireTM Orange' is a vibrant variation of the traditional Black-eyed Susan. This variety boasts bright orange flowers, potentially with a darker center, and a long flowering period. As the first pollen-free F1 hybrid available, it is an attractive choice for those with pollen allergies. The 'ClaireTM Orange' grows to a manageable 12 inches tall, making it suitable for small spaces and early fall containers.
Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sole Giatto' is a compact plant with double yellow flowers that bloom throughout the summer and fall. This Oxeye Sunflower variety is known for its bright, daisy-like flowers and can attract butterflies and bees. Its compact growth habit makes it a potential choice for those looking to add pollinator plants with limited space. At Reiman Gardens, 'Sole Giatto' experienced very little feeding damage from bunnies.
Solanum lycopersicum 'BadaBing!' is a cherry tomato variety with larger fruits at 1.5 inches. This tomato variety offers improved disease resistance, higher yield, and less cracking compared to other tomatoes in the same category. It comes with a robust disease resistance package for healthy plants and plentiful harvests.
These AAS winners are not only praised for their performance but also for their adaptability. They are suitable for various sun conditions and soil types, ensuring they grow well in diverse climates and conditions. For those seeking reliable and high-performing plants, the new AAS winners are an excellent choice.
Reiman Gardens, located in Iowa, functions as a display garden for recent AAS winners, showcasing ornamentals, edibles, and perennials. Visitors can see these new varieties in action and gain inspiration for their own gardens.
The All-America Selections is a national, non-profit plant trialing program with over 90 years of experience. Their mission is to discover, test, and promote new varieties that will provide superior garden performance. With the addition of the Rudbeckia hirta 'ClaireTM Orange', Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sole Giatto', and Solanum lycopersicum 'BadaBing!', gardeners can look forward to enjoying these new, high-performing plants in their own gardens.
Rudbeckia hirta cultivars are not reliably hardy to central Iowa, but the 'ClaireTM Orange' is easy to grow from seed every year. Judges were impressed with the bloom cycle of Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sole Giatto', making it an appealing choice for those seeking long-lasting, attractive flowers. Solanum lycopersicum 'BadaBing!' offers a unique, delicious cherry tomato that is both disease-resistant and crack-resistant, making it an attractive choice for home gardeners and commercial growers alike.
In conclusion, the Rudbeckia hirta 'ClaireTM Orange', Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sole Giatto', and Solanum lycopersicum 'BadaBing!' are three new AAS winners that offer a variety of benefits for gardeners. They are easy to grow, attractive, and offer superior performance in diverse climates and conditions. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these new AAS winners are an excellent addition to any garden.
- The vibrant Rudbeckia hirta 'ClaireTM Orange', a pollen-free F1 hybrid, is an appealing choice for those with pollen allergies, offering a long flowering period with bright orange flowers and potential dark centers, suitable for small spaces and early fall containers.
- Heliopsis helianthoides 'Sole Giatto', an Oxeye Sunflower variety, is a compact plant that blooms throughout the summer and fall, featuring double yellow flowers, and is known for its bright, daisy-like flowers, making it a potential choice for those looking to attract pollinators with limited space.
- Solanum lycopersicum 'BadaBing!', a cherry tomato variety, offers improved disease resistance, higher yield, and less cracking, providing gardeners and commercial growers alike with a unique, delicious, crack-resistant, and disease-resistant cherry tomato.
