Goldsmith Seeds, the long-time flower-breeder headquartered in
Gilroy, leads the way with the 2005 All America Selections flower
winners.
Goldsmith Seeds, the long-time flower-breeder headquartered in Gilroy, leads the way with the 2005 All America Selections flower winners. When I left you last week on award-winning vegetables, I mentioned that I would cover the AAS flower winners this week. All the 2005 winners will be available this spring and summer at local garden centers as already-started transplants, or you can order by seed through major mail-order seed companies.
“Magellan Coral” zinnia represents the 23rd AAS winner for Goldsmith Seeds. Ever since company founder Glenn Goldsmith hybridized award-winner “Bright Butterfly” snapdragon in 1966, the Hecker Pass company has been cranking out new flowers to the gardening world.
And I can certainly attest to the fact that it’s not an easy task. New flowers take an average of eight years to make it onto the market. A new variety has to be different – and better – than existing varieties or else why bring it out?
“Magellan Coral” zinnia is absolutely radiant, with its fully double-layered flower petals that are a brilliant coral. Flowers are huge at 5 to 6 inches, and mature on dwarf plants only 15 inches high, with a spread of about 15 inches. Flowers will remind some of large-flowered dahlias.
What makes this new zinnia so superior to others, says AAS Executive Director Nona Koivula, is its consistent flower production, earliness to bloom and long-lasting qualities. “Plants are brimming with luminous blooms, and offer consistent flower production with an improved quality,” she adds.
“First Kiss Blueberry” vinca rosea is the second of the three 2005 AAS flower winners. It is the first blue-flowered vinca rosea, which breeders have been working on for decades. If you’re not familiar with vinca rosea, you should be. Flowers are very similar to popular impatiens, but vinca can be grown in the hottest, driest part of the garden. Plants are slightly taller and more upright than most impatiens.
Vinca rosea also shouldn’t be confused with the groundcover vinca, such as vinca minor. Vinca rosea is normally a summer annual, meaning it dies in cold weather.
“First Kiss Blueberry” features large, 2-inch flowers. They have a darker center eye, which accentuates the violet blue color. Mature plants grow about 12 inches tall, with a spread of 16 inches. Like other vinca, they are proven to be heat and drought tolerant. They can be grown in containers or in the ground.
“Arizona Sun” gaillardia is the final award winner. This “Arizona Sun” happens to be red and yellow. Each 3-inch, single flower appears much like a daisy. Flowers are a mahogany red with bright yellow petal edges. Like many annuals, plants produce continuous flowers all summer long. Even the spent blooms are attractive as tufts of seed. When grown in full sun, plants spread about 10 inches.
Look for all the All America Selections winners at garden centers this spring and summer. They will be distinguished by red, white and blue AAS display signs. You can also buy seeds from large mail-order seed companies. More information is available on the AAS Web site at: www.allamericaselections.
org. A retail locator is available on the Web site that will indicate retailers in the area that will carry the winners. A list of mail-order seed companies is also featured.
Being the former public relations director for Goldsmith Seeds, I still conduct group tours of the Goldsmith Seeds flower-breeding facility. For a nominal fee, I’ll guide your group (minimum of 10) for a 90-minute tour through normally closed-to-the-public greenhouses.
You’ll see thousands of experimental bedding plants, including colors and types not available anywhere else in the world. E-mail me at: ga********@*ps.net for details.
