Every year since 1933, All-American Selections (AAS) gives out its top awards for the best plants and flowers of the year. AAS is a non-profit that rigorously tests new plant varieties for the home gardener. Their anonymous, impartial trials performed by professional horticulturists select the new plant introductions not yet sold to the public with superior performance. The organization was founded in 1932 by W. Ray Hastings, president of the Southern Seedsmen’s Association of Atlanta. AAS handed out its first award in 1933 when it selected seven plants, including cantaloupe 'Honey Rock' and Nasturtium 'Golden Gleam' among their winners.

Shown here: a 2010 All-American Selections winner, the dwarf snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) ‘Twinny Appleblossom’.

One way to get kids to eat their vegetables might be by offering them some purple broccoli. The 2024 vegetable winner from All-American Selections, 'Purple Magic ' broccoli is heat tolerant and easy to grow. An AAS judge called this broccoli, which is more tender and sweet than the green variety, "wicked good."

A 2024 AAS flower winner, this verbena was deemed exceptional for its rich pink, red and white blooms. 'Sweetheart Kisses' performs well in the sun, is a pollinator favorite and is easy to grow. It works beautifully as groundcover or in containers.

An AAS ornamental winner, celosia 'Burning Embers' has gorgeous bronze foliage and intense pink plumes. Larger and longer-lasting flowers and an ability to withstand heat and humidity made this celosia a judge favorite. Celosia is an annual in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae.