Fresno County residents can see how new flowering plants and vegetables bred by the nursery industry fare under local conditions in the All-American Selections demonstration area at the UC Master Gardeners’ Garden of the Sun.
All-America Selections, a national non-profit that tests plants for superior performance, places Fresno County in the West/Northwest region, which stretches from British Columbia in Canada to the San Joaquin Valley in the south. It sends selections for the region to the individual gardens within that area where their performance in local weather and soil conditions can be shown.
“Sometimes they haven’t thrived in our climate,” said Master Gardener Carol Giovacchini, who along with fellow MG Karen Basso manages the selections demonstration area at the Garden of the Sun.
But more often, new plants offer beautiful blooms over an extended period, unique colors, pleasant fragrances, plus disease and insect resistance.
“I like the Pinto Premium White to Rose geranium,” Basso said. “I even have a couple now at home.”
She also admires the many unique rudbeckias (sometimes called Black-eyed Susans) sent by AAS that have done well in the garden, including Indian Summer, Prairie Sun and Cherokee Sunset.
Giovacchini said her favorites include Bees Knees and Carmine Velour petunias, tiny Mad Hatter peppers and Queeny Lemon Peach zinnias.
Not all the new selections are available at local nurseries, but the Master Gardener Program always has some available for purchase during the spring plant sale season.
“We plan on selling many cultivars, including petunias, rudbeckias, daisies, verbenas and dianthus, along with AAS tomatoes and peppers,” Giovacchini said.
The Garden of the Sun is open to the public 8 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, plus on Saturdays for special events in the spring. Find all open dates on the MG website and follow the MG Facebook page for updates on the 2026 Spring Plant Sale.
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Written by UC Master Gardener Jeannette Warnert