All-America Selections announces additional 2010 winners

All-America Selections has announced 5 additional winners for 2010. These plants are now available to all distribution channels allowing growers time to order seed and for retailers to plan on carrying the plants for upcoming spring sales.

Echinacea purpurea ‘PowWow Wild Berry’ is an AAS Flower Award Winner. This coneflower, bred by PanAmerican Seed, produces deep rose-purple, 3- to 4-inch diameter flowers that retain their color for a long time. This first year flowering perennial, which is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 3, blooms continually without deadheading. Its basal branching habit results in more flowers per plant. It reaches 20-24 inches tall in full sun. It is an intermediate day-length plant with most rapid and uniform flowering at 14 hours, flowering approximately 20 weeks after sowing. Seed should be sown before the end of January for the most prolific and uniform flowering in the first year.

African marigold ‘Moonsong Deep Orange’ is a Flower Award Winner bred by Syngenta Flowers. This F₁ hybrid produces fully double, fade-resistant deep orange flowers that measure 2½ to 3½ inches in diameter. The 12- to 15-inch tall plants flower in about 70 days under short days or 84 days under long days.

Double Zahara Cherry and Fire zinnias, bred by PanAmerican Seed, join previously announced 2010 Bedding Plant Award Winner ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’. These two interspecific cross hybrids are resistant to leaf spot and mildew diseases. Both varieties produce fully double 2½-inch diameter flowers. Cherry is early to bloom in about 8-10 weeks and matures to about 12 inches tall and wide. Fire reaches a height of 14 inches tall and spread of 12 inches. Both varieties are heat tolerant and perform best in full sun.

‘Shiny Boy’ F₁ hybrid watermelon is a Vegetable Award Winner bred by Known-You Seed Co. Plants produce globe-shaped, red fleshed melons with dark seeds that weigh about 20 pounds. Its vigorous vines can grow up to 12 feet and plants can be grown vertically reducing the need for a large growing area. AAS judges noted a high yield and generally healthy plants, tolerant of severe weather. It can be grown successfully in any geographic region with warm summer growing conditions.