AAS, Perennial Plant Association announce trial deadlines

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – In 2015, All-America Selections (AAS) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA) successfully launched a brand new herbaceous perennial trial with five entries and corresponding comparisons currently planted and undergoing their first summer of evaluations.

Looking forward to the next possible set of perennial varieties, the organizations are now accepting entries for the 2017-2020 trial. The entry submission deadline is Sept. 1, 2016 to coincide with breeders’ timeline of summer evaluations and introduction decisions.

Entries have to be new, never-before-sold, but, after submission to the Herbaceous Perennial Trial, they may be introduced commercially. After the trial is completed, if the entry scores high enough to be become an AAS Winner, after criteria is met and the announcement is made by AAS, the breeder may then market that variety as an AAS Winner. Entries accepted will be herbaceous perennials propagated from seed, cutting, tissue culture or bare root. A seed entry can be trialed against a vegetative or TC comparison and vice-versa. Entries will be trialed next to comparisons, in order to continue the AAS legacy.

The trial is a three winter trial allowing judges to measure and record winter survivability and subsequent growing season performance. Other AAS trial entries will continue to be trialed over one growing season. Breeders who wish to have their herbaceous perennials tested for first-season performance can continue to use the one-season trial. All other herbaceous perennials should be placed in the three year perennial trial.

Entries will be sent to 24 trial sites beginning in early 2017. The first AAS Winners from the 2016 Perennial Trial entries will be announced in 2020.

For additional information, please contact Diane Blazek via email or phone at 630-963-0770.