All-America Selections has named their 2010 winners, and, bucking the trend in vegetable gardening, the awards went solely to flowers. The bedding plant award winners are 'Twinny Peach' snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and 'Zahara Starlight Rose' zinnia (Zinnia marylandica). The former bears double flowers without the jaws that create the "snapping" effect, and it blooms in shades of orange, yellow and pink. The latter has bicolor red and white blooms and resistance to leaf spot and mildew.

 
'Zahara Starlight Rose' zinnia (Zinnia marylandica) 

'Twinny Peach' snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

The flower award goes to 'Mesa Yellow' gaillardia (Gaillardia x grandiflora), which lives up to its moniker with bright canary color. It was chosen because at its maximum height of about 20" it avoids flopping, and its mounded habit keeps it well-behaved in the ground or in containers. 'Endurio Sky Blue Martien' viola (Viola cornuta) won the cool season award (despite its mouthful of a name). It can be planted in the fall for late-season blooms, and after the snow melts it will re-bloom in early spring. Displaying small, purplish-blue flowers, this spreading viola can be grown as a groundcover or container plant.

With the exception of the viola, it's a little late to add these award winners to the garden. But as you're making your plant wish list for next year, consider that these plants have already been tested for toughness and beauty and beat all the competition.

—Rose Rankin