Cape and Islands Orchid Society

AOS Judging and Awards

"The American Orchid Society has encouraged and recognized advancements in the cultivation and hybridization of orchids through its judging system since 1949. Today, the system, led by nearly 600 certified judges throughout the world, is undoubtedly one of the most extensive, elaborate and prestigious horticultural judging systems in the world. The AOS's system of judging was developed to grant recognition to new and superior forms of orchid species and to improved forms of orchid hybrids, as well as to plants of superior culture. Ideal flower form and optimum cultivation are elusive goals that hybridizers and growers strive to achieve. Judges must be knowledgeable of basic species used in hybridizing and the expected results of their use in breeding, and they must keep current on developments in modern hybridizing".

"The AOS's judging system is comprised of 31 Centers and additional sites throughout the United States and Canada. Each Center is served by a dedicated group of certified judges, maintains an extensive reference library of books and award photos for its judging activities, and is responsible for training prospective judges who affiliate with it. These Centers provide opportunities to have plants judged on specified monthly dates. The Centers also provide judging service to AOS-sanctioned shows within their area. Center activities are open to interested observers who wish to see the judging process in operation and/or bring their plants to be evaluated. Meeting dates, times, places and contact information are published each month in the award-winning Orchids magazine. Here is the most-current version of that information, and here is a listing of the Chairs of the Judging Centers".

The American Orchid Society grants awards to encourage and recognize meritorious achievement in all fields of orchid endeavors in accordance with the established rules set out in the Handbook on Judging and Exhibition. There are awards for flower quality, excellence of culture, advancements in hybridizing, botanical interest and other recognition-worthy aspects. There are also prestigious specialty awards granted annually for exceptional plants singled out as the best of the best from each year's awards.

AD (Award of Distinction) and AQ (Award of Quality)
These awards for breeding recognize worthy new trends and improved quality, respectively.

AM (Award of Merit)
A flower scoring 80 to 89 points on a 100-point scale. This flower-quality award is a fine though lesser achievement than the FCC.

CBR (Certificate of Botanical Recognition)
Awarded to rare and unusual species with educational interest. This award is granted provisionally and filed with the judging center Chair pending the exhibitor's supplying full taxonomic verification by a taxonomist acceptable to the AOS. Click here to link to the Web-site section detailing information regarding AOS-approved taxonomists, which also includes instructions on obtaining taxonomic verification.

CCM (Certificate of Cultural Merit)
The beginning orchid grower may hope to attain this award because it recognizes the grower, rather than flower quality. The CCM/AOS may be given more than once if the plant continues to thrive and increase in both the size and number of flowers.

CCE (Certificate of Cultural Excellence)
This award further distinguishes growers of plants that exhibit an extreme degree of skill in cultivation, having received 90 points or more on the scale that has been used for the Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM).

CHM (Certificate of Horticultural Merit)
Awarded to a well-grown and well-flowered species or natural hybrid with characteristics that contribute to the horticultural aspects of orchidology, such as aesthetic appeal. This award is granted provisionally and filed with the judging center Chair pending the exhibitor's supplying full taxonomic verification by a taxonomist acceptable to the AOS. Click here to link to the Web-site section detailing information regarding AOS-approved taxonomists, which also includes instructions on obtaining taxonomic verification.

FCC (First Class Certificate)
The highest flower-quality award, given to flowers scoring 90 points or more on a 100-point scale.

HCC (Highly Commended Certificate)
The HCC is granted to a flower scoring 75 to 79 points on a 100-point scale. The great majority of awarded orchids receive this award, which implies that, while the flower is outstanding, there is room for improvement.

JC (Judges' Commendation)
Given for distinctive characteristics that the judges unanimously feel should be recognized but cannot be scored in the customary ways.