DOWNERS GROVE, IL – In 2015, All-America Selections (AAS) in conjunction with the Perennial Plant Association (PPA), successfully launched a brand new herbaceous perennial trial with five entries and corresponding comparisons currently planted and undergoing their third summer of evaluations. The first of those winners will be announced in July 2019. Subsequent trial years have resulted in additional perennial entries that the AAS judges are evaluating through the thick and thin that Mother Nature delivers.
The organizations are now accepting entries for the 2019-2022 (three winter) trial. The entry submission deadline for herbaceous perennials is September 1, 2018 to coincide with breeders’ timeline of summer evaluations and introduction decisions. Click here for entry form.
Entries have to be new, never-before-sold, but, after submission to the Herbaceous Perennial Trial, they may be introduced commercially. After the trial is completed, if the entry scores high enough to be become an AAS Winner, after criteria is met and the announcement is made by AAS, the breeder may then market that variety as an AAS Winner. Entries accepted will be herbaceous perennials propagated from seed, cutting, tissue culture or bare root. A seed entry can be trialed against a vegetative or TC comparison and vice-versa. Entries will be trialed next to comparisons, in order to continue the AAS legacy.
AAS is also now accepting entries for the other three trials:
- Ornamentals propagated from vegetative cuttings – Click here for entry form
- Ornamentals propagated from seed – Click here for entry form
- Edibles/vegetables from seed – Click here for entry form
The deadline for these entries is November 1, 2018 and they are trialed over one growing season. Breeders who wish to have their herbaceous perennials tested for first-season performance can continue to use the one-season trial. Complete information is available on the AAS website.
Entries and comparisons are sent to all trialing sites in early 2019.
For additional information, please contact Diane Blazek via email or phone at 630-963-0770.
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All-America Selections (AAS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1932 to test new flowers and vegetables for home gardening. We utilize a network of 80 judges in over 50 trials grounds across North America to rate entries against comparisons. We then use an active public relations program to promote the best performers that are declared AAS Winners.
Perennial Plant Association (PPA) is a trade association composed of growers, retailers, educators, landscape designers and contractors that are professionally involved in the herbaceous perennial industry. Together, the two organizations have determined the details necessary to conduct a thorough and horticulturally sound perennial trial and PPA actively endorses this new AAS trial.
Source: All-America Selections (AAS)
