AAS heirloom winners for 2020

All-American Selections is reintroducing heirloom flowers to our gardens. Heirloom flowers are at least 50 years old or older. All-American Selections have picked 12 winners that they classify as historical winners. Flowers have an amazing history.

 The earliest reintroduction takes one back to 1934 and the Hunnemannia Sunlite, a Mexican Tulip Poppy that grows in sandy or loamy soils. They are native to North America and are great for naturalizing and as a cut flower. Their season-long continuous bloom will enhance any garden.

The Royal Purple Zinnia in 1942 was a Giant Dahlia form, primarily native to Mexico, but has been found growing wild in Colorado. The Spanish explorers brought the first zinnias to Europe in the 1500s, according to Harvesting History. Zinnias were at first in colors of orange, brown and yellow as a daisy-like flower. Not until 1864 were double flowering zinnias bred in purple, orange, salmon and red.

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