# All-America Rose Selections

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 |
| 1941 | | 'Charlotte Armstrong' | Lammerts (US) | 1941 | Armstrong Roses | Hybrid Tea |
| 1943 | | 'Mary Margaret McBride' | Nicolas (US) | 1942 | Jackson & Perkins | Hybrid 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. Stewart | Hybrid 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 |
| 1975 | TANolg | 'Oregold' 'Anneliese Rothenberger' | Tantau (Germany) | 1970 | Jackson & Perkins | Hybrid Tea |
| 1976 | KORshel | 'Seashell' | Kordes (Germany) | 1976 | Jackson & Perkins | Hybrid Tea |
| 1977 | ANDeli | 'Double Delight' | Ellis & Swim (US) | 1976 | Armstrong | Hybrid Tea |
| 1980 | JACsal | 'Cherish' | Warriner (US) | 1980 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 1980 | JACtwin | 'Love' | Warriner (US) | 1980 | Jackson & Perkins | Grandiflora |
| 1981 | rinaKOR | 'Marina' | Kordes (US) | 1974 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 1983 | JACjem | 'Sun Flare' 'Sunflare' | Warriner (US) | 1981 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 1984 | JACum | 'Olympiad' | McGredy IV (New Zealand) | 1982 | McGredy Roses International | Hybrid tea |
| 1984 | JACum | 'Intrigue' | Warriner (US) | 1982 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 1986 | AROmiclea | 'Voodoo' | Christensen (US) | 1984 | Armstrong | Hybrid tea |
| 1987 | MEIdomonac | 'Bonica 82' Bonica | Meilland (France) | 1985 | Meilland International | Shrub rose |
| 1988 | HARroony | 'Amber Queen' | Harkness (UK) | 1985 | R Harkness & Co. Ltd. | Floribunda |
| 1989 | JACient | 'Tournament of Roses' 'Berkeley' | Warriner (US) | 1988 | Jackson & Perkins | Grandiflora |
| 1991 | MEIpitac | 'Carefree Wonder' 'Dynastie' | Meilland (France) | 1990 | Meilland International | Shrub Rose |
| 1992 | JACpal | 'Brigadoon' | Warriner (US) | 1991 | Jackson & Perkins | Hybrid tea |
| 1993 | JACrite | 'Rio Samba' | Warriner (US) | 1991 | Jackson & Perkins | Hybrid Tea |
| 1994 | HILaroma | 'Secret' | Tracy (US) | 1992 | Star Roses | Hybrid Tea |
| 1995 | MACivy | Spek's Centennial 'Singin' in the Rain' | McGredy (New Zealand) | 1991 | Edmunds Roses | Floribunda |
| 1995 | JACcofl | 'Brass Band' | Jack E. Christensen USA | 1995 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 1996 | HARwelcome | 'Livin' Easy' 'Fellowship' | Harkness (UK) | 1992 | Weeks Roses | Floribunda |
| 1997 | WECplapep | 'Scentimental' | Carruth (US) | 1996 | Weeks Roses | Floribunda |
| 1998 | FRYxotic | Sunset 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' 'Kiwi | Carruth (US) | 2002 | Weeks Roses | Floribunda |
| 2004 | JACarque | 'Honey Perfume' | Zary (US) | 1993 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 2005 | WEKosupalz | About 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 |
| 2007 | JACtanic | 'Moondance' | Zary (US) | 2003 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 2008 | JACfrain | 'Mardi Gras' | Zary (US) | 2007 | Jackson & Perkins | Floribunda |
| 2009 | Wekcobeju | 'Cinco de Mayo 'Celebration Time' | Carruth (US) | 2006 | Weeks 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 |