Recent News

Second Round of 2023 AAS Winners Announced

There are three more National Award Winners to announce from the 2023 trials! Circle in your catalogs, and add to your garden plans for 2024! See the exciting new winners in this article.

New Plant Hardiness Zone Map Released from the USDA

In November 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an updated version of its popular Plant Hardiness Zone Map. 
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a standard guide to a plant’s cold tolerance.  Overall, much of Iowa is now in Hardiness Zone 5.  Learn more about the new map and how to best use it below.

First Round of AAS 2023 Winners Announced

All-America Selections has named its first round of winners from the 2023 trials! These winners were all grown and trialed at Reiman Gardens this summer. See the exciting new winners here.

AAS Winners are Great Fall Plants for Your Home Garden

AAS Winners include Verbena bonariensis 'Vanity,' Capsicum baccatum 'Mad Hatter,' and Echinacea purpurea 'PowWow Wild Berry.'

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (MALB) and Fall Fruit: Why you should look before you eat

The recent cool temperatures and visages of browning corn and soybeans in the rural landscape are signs that fall is upon us.  One negative of the fall crops dying off is that some of the insects that were living in those fields are now looking for alternative food sources such as apples, grapes, and fall raspberries.

AAS Winners are Great Ornamental Peppers for Your Home Garden

Fall is in the air! All-America Selections has your lineup of ornamental peppers that pack a punch and hold up well against early, light frosts. 

Let's Talk Trees on the Video Series, The Undergrowth

Have a little fun and watch the latest episode of The Undergrowth.  Sebastian speaks with Dr. Jeff Iles, an extension horticulturist, professor, and Horticulture Department chair at Iowa State University about caring for trees. 

Oak Leaves Flagging throughout the Tree Canopy

A common sight in the Iowa landscape this summer has been patches of ~2-10 dead leaves (give or take) occurring randomly scattered throughout oak tree canopies. Most leaves, however, remain unaffected. This condition (called flagging) does not discriminate between the various species of oak and has been reported on red, white, and bur oaks but seems most prominent on older oaks than young or newly planted trees. Let’s discuss the possible causes of this oak leaf flagging, starting with the most likely.

Should You Worry About Bald-Faced Hornets?

Bald-faced hornets are beneficial insects; they can help to manage garden pests such as grasshoppers. Most nests do not need to be removed, so long as they aren’t in high-trafficked areas or close to the ground.

AAS Winners are Great New Vegetables for the Home Garden

Explore All-America Selection winners Cucurbita pepo 'Bossa Nova' zucchini, Cucumis sativus 'Green Light' cucumber, and Solanum lycopersicum 'Pink Delicious' tomato.

Horticulture at the Iowa State Fair

This week marks the start of the Iowa State Fair!  Each year, amazing flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural plants are put on display.  There is something horticultural to see any day of the Fair - the Rose Show, Dahlias, Bonsai, and exhibits from students in 4-H and FFA. Here are a few of my favorite horticulture highlights to catch at the Iowa State Fair!

Bed Bugs or Bat Bugs-ID is Crucial to Management

Bed bugs and bat bugs are nearly identical to the naked eye, and both can be found in the home. Most individuals notice both bed bugs and bat bugs in bedrooms, which can create panic or fears over possible infestation. Most individuals assume the identification of bed bugs due to widely available identification resources online, but a bat bug mistaken for a bed bug can result in hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars wasted on management, as bed bugs and bat bugs are managed differently.

Tips and Tricks for Identifying and Tracking Plant Problems

Sometimes, it seems as though plant problems in our yards and gardens pop up out of nowhere. One minute you think you’ve got a landscape in pristine health and the next, you’re like, “why is my tree looking so bad!?”

Most plant problems don’t happen that quickly. Here are some tips and tricks for identifying and tracking plant problems in your yard and garden.

AAS Winners are Great Plants for Your Garden

Explore the award-winning edible and ornamental plants from All-America Selections featuring "Giant Marconi" pepper, "New Look" celosia, and "Chef's Choice Bicolor" tomato.

Trees for Iowa

AAS Winners are Great New Plants to Grow in the Garden

Discover AAS Winners like Foeniculum vulgare 'Antares,' Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Purple,' and Abelmoschus esculentus 'Candle Fire.'

AAS Winners are Great New Plants for Your Home Garden

All-America Selections features award-winning edible and ornamental plants. Learn about top performers like 'Super Hero™ Spry' marigold, 'Konan' kohlrabi, and 'Summer Jewel™' Salvia. 

Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic Dos and Don'ts

AAS Winners are Great New Additions to Your Home Garden

Learn about standout varieties like Verbena 'Vanity', Thai pepper 'Quickfire', and habanero-flavored 'Roulette'.

New PIDC Service-Insect Molecular Identifications

The Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) now runs two insect identification services, the regular microscope insect identification ($10.00) and a new molecular insect identification ($35.00). Read more about molecular insect idenetification in this article.