All-America SelectionsAll-America SelectionsAll-America SelectionsAll-America Selections
  • AAS Winners
    • Search AAS Winners
    • Buy Winners
    • Complete AAS Winner List
    • About AAS Winners
    • Judges’ Biographies
  • Display Gardens
    • Visit an AAS Display Garden
    • Design Challenge Winners
    • Become an AAS Display Garden
    • Info for Current Display Gardens
  • Blog
  • About
    • About AAS
    • AAS Garden Types
    • AAS Award Recipients
    • AAS Meetings
      • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Annual Reports
    • AAS Judges
  • Industry
    • Enter AAS Trials
    • AAS Media Kit
    • AAS Introduction Gardens
    • AAS Ambassador Tools
    • Signs and Brochures
    • Wholesale Sources
    • Judge’s Login
  • Contact
Next Previous

What is All-America Selections?

4 April, 2019
What is All-America Selections? Find out here

What is All-America Selections? Find out here

For all our new fans and followers, we thought this was a great time (spring is gardening time, right?) to answer your questions about our organization.

Since a Q&A format is easy to follow, here we go!


 

What exactly is All-America Selections (AAS)?

AAS is a non-profit plant trialing organization that promotes new varieties for the home gardener. Varieties that have been judged to have superior garden performance in impartial trials throughout North America are awarded the AAS winner designation.

When was AAS founded?

In 1932, about the time a lot of new breeding and selection work was being done in both vegetables and flowers.

Why was AAS founded?

Mr. Ray Hastings, our founder, saw all the new varieties coming to market and wanted an independent, non-profit organization that could trial and evaluate all the new genetics to see if they performed as claimed. He wanted home gardeners to be assured they were purchasing quality products.

Where are the entries trialed?

In the early days, we had just 10 trial sites. Now we have more than 90 unique trial sites that judge one or more of our four trials. They are located across North America for a true test in all growing climates. AAS Trial sites for a Google map of all trial locations.

What are the trial types?

The seven trials are 1) Flowers/ornamentals from seed, grown in-ground, 2) Flowers/ornamentals from seed, grown in containers, 3) Flowers/ornamentals from non-seed propagation methods, grown in-ground, 4) Flowers/ornamentals from non-seed propagation methods, grown in containers, 5) Vegetables/Edibles from seed, grown in-ground, 6) Vegetables/Edibles from seed, grown in containers  and 7) Perennials grown in-ground.

Who are the AAS Judges?

The AAS Judges are professional horticulturists who have past trialing experience and are experts in their field. They include university professors, seed breeders, seed buyers, growers, public garden horticulturists, etc.

Who submits the entries?

We work with breeders from all over the world. Many have a North American presence while others are from outside of North America but want to offer their products to North American gardeners.

What do the judges look for?

They are always looking for superior garden performance. We want to make sure the home gardener is successful so judges are asked to look for disease resistance, stem strength, flower color, number of flowers, taste, and yield (for edibles) and overwintering ability (in perennials).

What happens after the trial is complete?

The judges submit their scores to the AAS office. If an entry has a high enough score then it is deemed an AAS Winner.

What does the AAS Winner logo represent?

The AAS Winner logo you see on plants and seed packets means that variety has been “Tested Nationally & Proven Locally” so it will perform well in your garden. As many have said: “The Proof is in the Plant.” Try them, you’ll like them!


More questions? Please post them in the comments below and we’ll answer your questions in a future blog!

“This post is provided as an education/inspirational service of All-America Selections. Please credit and link to All-America Selections when using all or parts of this article.”

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video, document, spreadsheet, interactive, other. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

Follow Blog via Email



Topics

  • AAS in the News
  • AAS Winners
  • Edible Winners
  • Flower/Ornamental Winners
  • Gardening Tips
  • Perennial Winners
  • Pollinator Garden
  • Recipes

Archives

  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  AAS Winners

MISSION STATEMENT

“To promote new garden varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.”

CONTACT

5201 Walnut Ave. Suite 3
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: 630-963-0770

QUICKLINKS

  • AAS Winners
  • Media Kit
  • Judge’s Login

ENEWS SIGN-UP

  AAS Winners
Copyright © 2023 All-America Selections.
  • AAS Winners
    • Search AAS Winners
    • Complete AAS Winner List
    • About AAS Winners
    • Judges’ Biographies
  • Newsletter Sign up
  • Display Gardens
    • Visit an AAS Display Garden
    • Design Challenge Winners
    • Become an AAS Display Garden
    • Info for Current Display Gardens
  • News
  • About
    • About AAS
    • AAS Award Recipients
    • AAS Meetings
    • Annual Reports
  • Industry
    • AAS Introduction Gardens
    • Media Kit
    • AAS Garden Types
    • Signs and Brochures
    • AAS Ambassador Tools
    • Breeders’ Entry Information
    • Wholesale Sources of AAS Winners
    • Judge’s Login
  • Contact
All-America Selections