Top Annuals for 2004

Here are the even dozen All America Selections winners for 2004.  
Watch for these in garden centers in spring - or buy seeds early for those that are available.
See the links at right, beside the individual plant varieties.

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Top Annuals for 2008

AAS Top Annuals for 2007
AAS Top Annuals for 2006
AAS 2005 Top Annuals
AAS 2004 Top Annuals

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Carnation F1 'Can Can Scarlet' Flower Award Winner
This is one of the most fragrant garden carnations. The spicy fragrance will almost fill a room when the double, 2-inch blooms are cut and used in a bouquet. 'Can Can Scarlet' is heat tolerant, producing flowers throughout the growing season into the fall. This variety is perfect for a cut flower garden, the grey-green foliage contrasts with the bright scarlet blooms. Mature plants will reach 12 to 14 inches tall. Flowering pot plants will be available from garden centers in the spring.

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Ornamental Millet F1 'Purple Majesty' GOLD MEDAL Flower Award Winner
"Tall, dark and handsome" describes this purple-leaved millet. Young plants are green-leaved, direct sunlight induces the purple leaf color. Capable of growing 3 to 5 feet tall, the plants are embellished with 8- to 12-inch flower spikes. The immature spikes can be cut and used dramatically in floral arrangements. Left on the plant, the millet seed spike attracts birds that snack on seed. 'Purple Majesty' is very easy to grow and is very tolerant of heat and low moisture. The purple leaf blades and spike are distinctly different from all other ornamentals.

Petunia F1 'Merlin Blue Morn' Flower Award Winner
A distinctly different blue and white petunia, the 2½-inch blooms are pure white in the center with a soft transition to velvety blue on the petal edge. The bicolor pattern is highly visible from a distance. Best garden performance will occur in full sun. The branching plants will spread 18 to 30 inches and attain a mature height of 15 to 20 inches. 'Merlin Blue Morn' is highly recommended for use in hanging baskets or patio containers. 'Merlin Blue Morn' bedding plants will be available from retail stores.
 

Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun' Flower Award Winner
This robust rudbeckia has distinctive blooms. The light green central cone blends beautifully with the golden-yellow petals, which are tipped primrose yellow. The 5-inch blooms on branching plants that mature at about 3 feet tall make a strong statement in any full-sun garden. Easy to grow and maintain, 'Prairie Sun' is a memorable plant in any perennial, annual or cut flower garden. Flower stems are sufficiently long for quality cut flowers. 'Prairie Sun' plants become a forceful focal point in any large container.

Petunia F1 'Blue Wave' Flower Award Winner
The velvety, dark blue 2-inch blooms cover this trailing plant for the growing season. The plants are capable of spreading 3 to 4 feet like a ground cover. Mature plant height can be 4 to 7 inches. The 'Wave' improvement is little garden toil. No pinching or pruning is needed for 'Blue Wave' to flower all season. The plants need moderately fertile soil to maintain the freedom of bloom. 'Blue Wave' is adaptable to any container. Flowering pot plants will be available at retail stores this spring.

Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee' Flower Award Winner
This golden-leaved aromatic herb thrives in a full-sun garden or a partial-shade garden location. The symmetrical, branching plants reach a mature height of 20 inches and spread 10 to 15 inches. The heat-loving plants will produce dense spikes of lavender-blue florets that crown the plants in mid to late summer. The attractive serrated leaves release an alluring mint fragrance when lightly crushed. 'Golden Jubilee' is an easily grown undemanding annual. Named 'Golden Jubilee' to commemorate the 50 years' reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Dianthus F1 'Corona Cherry Magic' Bedding Plant Award Winner
This is the first dianthus with a capricious bicolor pattern. The flower color can be entirely cherry red, entirely lavender or a mosaic of both colors. The unpredictable design is whimsical. Best performance will occur in a full-sun location. Expect large, 2-inch blooms. 'Corona Cherry Magic' plants will reach 7 to 9 inches tall when mature and spread 8 to 10 inches. This annual provides flower color throughout the growing season. 'Corona Cherry Magic' bedding plants will be available from garden centers.

Vinca 'Jaio Dark Red' Bedding Plant Award Winner
A really red vinca with a small white center sets this summer flowering vinca apart from all others. The large 2½-inch blooms can cover the basal branching plant throughout the growing season. The glossy green foliage is not attractive to insects or larger mammals such as deer. When grown in a full-sun garden location, 'Jaio Dark Red' plants can attain a mature plant height of 15 inches, spreading up to 20 inches. Extremely heat and drought tolerant, 'Jaio Dark Red' provides constant garden color with minimal care.

Eustoma F1 'Forever White' Bedding Plant Award Winner
Simply the best white flowering eustoma for your garden. The large 2½-inch ivory-white blooms cover the plant at various times throughout the growing season. 'Forever White' exhibited heat and low moisture tolerance in trials across North America. The compact, branching plant lends itself to container culture. Attaining a mature height of 12 inches, 'Forever White' plants fit perfectly into patio containers where the blooms can be appreciated with close contact. 'Forever White' flowering potted plants will be available from garden centers.

Gaillardia pulchella 'Sundance Bicolor' Bedding Plant Award Winner
The first consistent mahogany red and yellow bicolor gaillardia flower. The globe-shaped blooms are primarily double and can cover the plant throughout the growing season. Exhibiting heat and drought tolerance, 'Sundance Bicolor' is carefree in the garden. The spreading plants need 15 to 16 inches of garden space, preferably in full sun. This annual needs moderately fertile soil and moisture to flower abundantly during the summer. The spreading habit is desirable for hanging baskets or patio containers.

Melon F1 'Angel' Vegetable Award Winner
An early Mediterranean-type melon, 'Angel' has a heavenly flavor. All melon sugars are scientifically measured as a brix count. 'Angel' measured 16% to 19%, which indicates a very sweet flavor. The 2- to 3-pound melons have a white interior with a crisp texture. 'Angel' helps the gardener know when to harvest. The lightly netted melon skin turns creamy yellow when mature; about 60 days from planting young 'Angel' plants into the garden. 'Angel' vines will spread 6 to 7 feet and are resistant to fusarium wilt races 0 and 2.

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