Indiana’s 8 All-America Selections Display Gardens Plant Seeds of the Latest Garden Trends

Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden; Photo credit: Steve Mayer

Innovative Indiana gardeners want the latest and greatest plants for their landscapes. And the best place to see those plants is at one of Indiana’s eight All-America Selections Display Gardens.

“I think that’s the most we have in any one state,” says Diane Blazek, executive director of All-America Selections.

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AAS is a not-for-profit organization that trials new plants in about 24 sites throughout North America. The plants are evaluated and compared to similar ones on the market. Those that have improved characteristics are honored as regional or national All-America Selections Winners. Improvements include disease resistance, larger flowers, sweeter fruits, long-lasting beauty or production, and size of plant.

AAS declares winners in several plant groups, including annuals, perennials, edibles and bulbs. The plants are tested in the ground and in containers. Seeds are sown for some plants, and others are grown from transplants. Those winners are on display in Indiana’s eight AAS gardens every year.

Evansville’s AAS Display Garden; Photo credit: Greg Gordon

Evansville’s AAS Display Garden

In Evansville, the Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association manages the AAS Display Garden, which was started in 2009, says Greg Gordon, a Master Gardener and volunteer at the garden. The 2-acre garden is on the grounds of the Evansville State Hospital.

“It’s a place where people walk. There are always a lot of people there,” Gordon says. The Master Gardeners have a plant sale in spring to support the garden.

See more: Add Tropical Splendor to Your Indiana Landscape

Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden; Photo credit: Steve Mayer

Indianapolis’ AAS Demonstration Garden

In Indianapolis, the Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022 as an AAS Demonstration Garden. Master Gardeners also volunteer at the garden, which is on the Indiana State Fairgrounds, next to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

In 2022, the garden donated more than 2,000 pounds of food to an area food bank. “This is the first time we had more than a ton,” says Steve Mayer, a retired Marion County Extension educator and volunteer in the garden. The previous record was 1,600 pounds in 2020.

The Indianapolis AAS Garden had 16,750 visitors in 2022, most from the state fair crowd. About 24 volunteers work the garden every year, planting, watering, deadheading, weeding and harvesting vegetables, flowers and herbs.

Competition Blooms

Each year AAS issues a Display Garden Challenge.

“It is so fun and interesting,” Blazek says. “This year was one of the best, as the theme was Games in the Garden. The Indiana gardens are especially active and very, very creative.”

The AAS garden in Evansville had fewer than 10,000 visitors this year but has garnered honorable mentions for its displays. The Indianapolis garden competes in the 10,000 to 100,000 category and has won several first-place awards. This year, the garden placed second.

Each garden sets its own policies. Some have free admission while others may charge a fee. Some gardens refer to themselves as demonstration gardens and others display gardens.

The AAS website is filled with descriptions of its award winners, where to buy plants and other information to help consumers find the plants.

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About the Author: Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, hoosiergardener.com, is available for in-person or remote programs about gardening, native plants, sustainable living and what to avoid planting. Contact her at thehoosiergardener@gmail.com.