Since 1932, All-America Selections has been evaluating new vegetable and flower introductions at trial gardens across the United States, awarding its prestigious AAS Winner label to the best performers. This year there were only three winners, far below the annual average of nine. Last week I reported on the single 2008 AAS Vegetable Award winner, an eggplant named ‘Hansel.’ I would now like to introduce the two AAS Bedding Plant Award winners for 2008.

Osteospermum ‘Asti White’

Pure white daisy flowers with blue centers are the main attraction for a new African daisy, Osteospermum ‘Asti White.’ The large blooms, 2 to 2 1/2 inches across, are carried on stems that gracefully wave in the wind. Thick fleshy leaves indicate its drought tolerance, which makes this a preferred annual in any area subject to dry conditions.

‘Asti White’ is the first separate color of African daisy, or Cape daisy, propagated from seed, giving gardeners the choice of growing plants from seed or purchasing transplants. ‘Asti White’ plants will flower uniformly about 17 weeks from seed, 14 weeks from transplanting seedlings.

There are several advantages to this new variety. The flowers remain open under cloudy conditions, unlike other daisy flowers originating from South Africa, which close. ‘Asti White’ plants will also recover and continue to bloom after a slight frost. The plants can be placed in the spring or fall garden, weeks earlier than other tender annuals.

‘Asti White’ plants thrive in a sunny garden, reaching about 17 to 20 inches tall and wide. They should be planted in the garden about 12 inches apart. They belong in the cutting garden and are also perfect for growing in containers, preferably 6-inch pots or larger. To keep them blooming, be sure to deadhead spent blossoms promptly.

Gardeners looking for seed of ‘Asti White’ can contact Park Seed Co. (www.parkseed.com, 1-800-213-0076), Harris Seeds (www.harrisseeds.com, 1-800-514-4441), or Stokes Seeds (www.stokeseeds.com, 1-800-396-9238).

Viola ‘Skippy XL Plum-Gold’

The sunny gold pansylike faces of this viola were no doubt the feature that charmed AAS judges across the country. The flowers of ‘Skippy’ are unique with plumy purple top petals surrounding golden base petals whiskered in black.

The blooms are small, about 11/2 inches, but are not to be underrated. The number of blooms produced more than makes up for the size. ‘Skippy XL Plum-Gold’ won the AAS Award for its ability to grow a lavish number of blooms.

In Maine, plants can be expected to bloom beginning in spring and continue flowering in the heat of summer. The petite plants grow 6 to 8 inches tall and wide and are highly recommended for combination planters. Gardeners can rely on ‘Skippy’ to provide abundant blooms whether growing in containers, window boxes, or in the border.

Seeds of Viola ‘Skippy’ can be purchased from Park Seed Co. or from W. Atlee Burpee & Co. (www.burpee.com, 1-800-333-5808.)

Plants of both of these new varieties are likely to show up in area garden centers this coming spring.

Send queries to Gardening Questions, P.O. Box 418, Ellsworth 04605, or to rmanley@ptc-me.net. Include name, address and telephone number.