The All-America Rose Selections (AARS) is an award that was given annually, from 1940 to 2013, by the American rose industry to an outstanding new rose variety. The AARS selection was regarded as the most prestigious rose prize in the United States for 73 years. AARS was discontinued after 2013, and was replaced in 2016 by the new American Garden Rose Selections (AGRS) program.
History In 1938, W. Ray Hastings, creator of "All-America Rose Selections", approached Charles Perkins, president of the Jackson & Perkins company with an idea for a rose testing program. Their conversation led to a meeting in Chicago on January 8, 1939, with representatives from the seventeen largest rose growers. The outcome of the meeting was the creation of the non-profit organization, "All-America Rose Selections, Inc. (AARS), with the goal of evaluating and promoting outstanding roses."' The first rose trials began in 1939 in AARS test gardens throughout the US. The first AARS winners were announced in 1940.
The "All-America Rose Selections" continued each year from 1940 until 2013. The award is considered to be the most prestigious rose award in the United States. Hybrid tea rose, 'Francis Meilland' was the last rose awarded by AARS. AARS was discontinued after 2013, and was replaced by the new "American Garden Rose Selections" program.
Rose testing and selection The AARS selection process began with a rose grower submitting a new rose (or roses) to AARS for testing. Roses were grown in official rose testing gardens, typically universities and rose nurseries throughout the US. Roses would be evaluated for two years on many qualities, including disease resistance, flowers, form, and ability to grow in many climates. "The AARS award winners chosen at the end of the trial period comprise only about four percent of all the roses tested". The winning roses can display the AARS brand on their rose tags and in nursery catalogues.
AARS winners This is a partial list of All-America Rose Selection winners. Award year Cultivar Marketing name Hybridizer Intro year Introduced by Cultivar Group Image 1941'Charlotte Armstrong'Lammerts (US) 1941 Armstrong Roses Hybrid Tea 1943 'Mary Margaret McBride' Nicolas (US) 1942 Jackson & PerkinsHybrid Tea 1948 'Diamond Jubilee' Boerner (US) 1947 Jackson & Perkins Hybrid Tea 1953 'Ma Perkins'Boerner (US) 1952 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 1955 'Queen Elizabeth' 'The Queen of England'Lammerts (US) 1954 Germain Seed & Plant Company Grandiflora 1955 'Tiffany'Lindquist (US) 1954 Howard Rose Company Hybrid tea 1960 ''Garden Party''Swim (US) 1959 Armstrong Hybrid Tea 1961 ''Duet''Swim (US) 1960 Armstrong Hybrid Tea 1962 ''King's Ransom''Swim (US) 1962 Armstrong Hybrid tea 1963 ''Royal Highness''Morey (US) 1961 Weeks Roses Hybrid Tea 1965 ''Mister Lincoln'' 'Mr. Lincoln'Swim & Weeks (US) 1964 Star Roses Hybrid Tea 1966 ''Apricot Nectar''Boerner (US) 1965 Jackson & Perkins Hybrid Tea 1967 'Bewitched'Lammerts (US) 1967 Germain Seed & Plant Co. Hybrid Tea 1968 'Europeana'de Ruiter Innovations (Belgium) 1963 Roy H. Rumsey Pty. Ltd. Floribunda 1969 ''Gene Boerner'Boerner (US) 1968 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 1969 ''Pascali'Lens (Belgium) 1964 T.G. StewartHybrid tea 1971 'Red Gold' 'Rouge et Or''Alinka'Patrick Dickson (Northern Ireland) 1967 Dickson Roses Floribunda 1973 'Electron' 'Mullard Jubilee'McGredy IV (Northern Ireland) 1970 Sam McGredy Hybrid Tea 1974 'Perfume Delight'Swimm & Weeks (US) 1973 Star Roses Hybrid Tea 1975TANolg 'Oregold' 'Anneliese Rothenberger'Tantau (Germany) 1970 Jackson & Perkins Hybrid Tea 1976KORshel 'Seashell' Kordes (Germany) 1976 Jackson & Perkins Hybrid Tea 1977ANDeli 'Double Delight'Ellis & Swim (US) 1976 Armstrong Hybrid Tea 1980JACsal 'Cherish' Warriner (US) 1980 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 1980JACtwin 'Love' Warriner (US) 1980 Jackson & Perkins Grandiflora 1981rinaKOR 'Marina' Kordes (US) 1974 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 1983JACjem 'Sun Flare' 'Sunflare' Warriner (US) 1981 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 1984JACum 'Olympiad' McGredy IV (New Zealand) 1982 McGredy Roses International Hybrid tea 1984JACum 'Intrigue' Warriner (US) 1982 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 1986AROmiclea 'Voodoo' Christensen (US) 1984 Armstrong Hybrid tea 1987MEIdomonac 'Bonica 82' BonicaMeilland (France) 1985 Meilland International Shrub rose 1988HARroony 'Amber Queen' Harkness (UK) 1985 R Harkness & Co. Ltd. Floribunda 1989JACient 'Tournament of Roses' 'Berkeley' Warriner (US) 1988 Jackson & Perkins Grandiflora 1991 MEIpitac'Carefree Wonder' 'Dynastie'Meilland (France) 1990 Meilland InternationalShrub Rose 1992 JACpal'Brigadoon'Warriner (US) 1991 Jackson & PerkinsHybrid tea 1993 JACrite'Rio Samba'Warriner (US) 1991 Jackson & PerkinsHybrid Tea 1994 HILaroma'Secret'Tracy (US) 1992 Star RosesHybrid Tea 1995 MACivySpek's Centennial'Singin' in the Rain'McGredy (New Zealand) 1991 Edmunds Roses Floribunda 1995 JACcofl'Brass Band'Jack E. Christensen USA 1995 Jackson & PerkinsFloribunda 1996 HARwelcome'Livin' Easy' 'Fellowship'Harkness (UK) 1992 Weeks Roses Floribunda 1997 WECplapep'Scentimental' Carruth (US) 1996 Weeks Roses Floribunda 1998 FRYxoticSunset Celebration''Warm Wishes' Fryer (UK) 1994 Weeks Roses Hybrid Tea 1999 WEKplapic'Betty Boop'Carruth (US) 1999 Weeks Roses Floribunda 1999 WEKroalt'Fourth of July'Carruth (US) 1999 Weeks Roses Climbing rose 2000 RADrazz'Knock Out' Radler (US) 2000 Star Roses Shrub rose 2001 MEIzoele'Glowing Peace' 'Phillippe Noiret' Meilland (France) 1999 Meilland Hybrid tea 2002 BALpeace'Love & Peace'Lim & Twomey (US) 1991 Bailey Nurseries Hybrid tea 2003 WEKpaltlez'Hot Cocoa' 'KiwiCarruth (US) 2002 Weeks Roses Floribunda 2004 JACarque'Honey Perfume'Zary (US) 1993 Jackson & PerkinsFloribunda 2005 WEKosupalzAbout Face Carruth (US) 1993 Weeks Roses Grandiflora 2006 WEKvossutono'Julia Child' 'Absolutely Fabulous' Carruth (US) 2004 Weeks Roses Floribunda 2006 WEKisoblip'Wild Blue Yonder' Blue Eden Carruth (US) 2004 Weeks Roses Grandiflora 2007JACtanic'Moondance'Zary (US) 2003Jackson & PerkinsFloribunda 2008 JACfrain'Mardi Gras' Zary (US) 2007Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 2009 Wekcobeju'Cinco de Mayo 'Celebration Time' Carruth (US) 2006Weeks Roses Floribunda 2010 HARpageant'Easy Does It' 'Firestar' Harkness (US) 2004 Weeks Roses Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 2011 JACmcady'Walking on Sunshine' Zary (US) 2010 Jackson & Perkins Floribunda 2012 MEIkanaro'Sunshine Daydream' Meilland (France) 2006 Meilland International Grandiflora 2013 MEItroni'Schloss Ippenburg' Francis Meilland Meilland (France) 2006 Meilland International Hybrid tea
See also
Rose trial grounds International Rose Test Garden List of Award of Garden Merit roses Rose Hall of Fame
Notes
References