All-America Selections has announced three new AAS winners, the first for the 2026 gardening season, according to Nursery Management magazine.
All AAS winners are trialed throughout North America by professional, independent, volunteer judges who grow new, never-before-sold entries next to comparisons that are considered best-in-class. Only those entries that have superior garden performance, better than the comparisons, are granted the AAS award designation.
The newest winners:
Heliopsis Sole Giatto, National Winner, perennial. Sole Giatto is a compact false sunflower perfect for containers, borders or any sunny spot, Standing 12”–16” tall and wide, this highly floriferous perennial explodes with long-lasting bright yellow blooms from late spring through fall. Bred for extended appeal and continuous garden performance, Sole Giotto attracts beneficial pollinators while resisting deer and rabbits. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8, this vibrant and easy-care plant is ideal for adding reliable color to any landscape.
Rudbeckia Claire Orange F1, National Winner, seed. Claire Orange is the world’s first pollen-free F1 hybrid Rudbeckia. This compact, early-flowering selection features a tidy, uniform habit and an abundance of bright, clear orange blooms. Inspired by its namesake, the central “eye” remains perfectly clean, free from pollen. Its vigor, floriferousness and heat and disease tolerance ensure a long-lasting, vibrant display, even in challenging conditions.
Tomato BadaBing! F1, Regional Winner (Great Lakes, Heartland, Mountain/Southwest, Southeast). Tomato BadaBing! F1 offers protection against Septoria leaf spot, early blight and late blight, ensuring plants stay healthy all season. These early-season tomatoes are juicy, crack-resistant, 1.5 inches and bright red. Despite being an indeterminate plant, BadaBing! stays a manageable 40” tall. This reliable tomato was bred for superior garden performance and robust disease resistance.
Home gardeners interested in these varieties can look for them at their favorite garden centers in the spring.