New All America Selections Reveal Top Garden Varieties for 2026

The All America Selections (AAS) has announced its winners for the gardening season of 2026, showcasing innovative plant varieties deemed exceptional for home gardeners. This notable selection process highlights plants that have undergone extensive testing by a network of horticultural professionals. Only those that exhibit superior performance earn the prestigious AAS Winner designation, which serves as a reliable guide for gardeners seeking quality options.

Understanding the AAS Winner Designation

The AAS is a non-profit organization dedicated to evaluating new garden varieties that have never been sold before. Each year, volunteers conduct anonymous trials across North America to determine which plants flourish best under various conditions. Winning varieties are recognized not only for their performance but also for attributes like earliness, taste, disease resistance, and uniqueness. The AAS Gold Medal Award, presented once or twice a decade, honors significant breeding breakthroughs.

In addition to national winners, the AAS also designates Regional Winners, which are varieties that perform exceptionally well in specific areas rather than across the entire continent. This allows gardeners to select plants that will thrive in their local climates.

Notable Winners for 2026

Among the standout winners is Basil Treviso, a compact yet vigorous basil that retains its tender leaves well into the growing season. Its heat tolerance and slow flowering make it a high-performing choice for kitchen gardens. Gardeners can expect to enjoy its quality late in the summer months.

Another impressive selection is Bean Majesty, a purple pole bean with excellent yield and quality. This variety features dense foliage that resists insect damage and recovers quickly from heat stress. Its sweet, tender beans can be harvested continuously throughout the season, making it an appealing option for home cooks.

For those interested in leafy greens, Kale Rubybor F1 offers both beauty and functionality. With its striking deep purple leaves and compact growth habit, it is perfect for both ornamental gardens and culinary use. This kale variety is known for being exceptionally tender without any bitterness.

Another highlight is Butter Lamp F1, a mini, pumpkin-shaped butternut squash. It combines charm with performance, as the plants exhibit resistance to powdery mildew and insect pressures. This squash matures early, producing uniform fruits with rich, yellow flesh that are ideal for a variety of dishes.

Finally, Tomato BadaBing! F1 stands out as a cherry tomato variety that produces flavorful, crack-resistant fruit. With a growth height of approximately 40 inches (about 1 metre), it suits both containers and garden beds, allowing versatility in planting.

Horticulturists and gardeners looking for reliable new varieties can find more information about the 2026 AAS winners on the AAS website, which lists seed suppliers for each of the awarded plants. The seeds will be available for purchase as supplies become accessible, making it easier for enthusiasts to incorporate these high-performing varieties into their gardens.

For more updates and insights, follow Patricia Hanbridge, Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture, and stay tuned for the next article featuring more of the latest AAS winners. Visit their website at www.orchidhort.com.