Guidelines

Please carefully read and follow the GCA Rules, Museum Rules, General Information, Division Guidelines, and Timetable for Exhibitors.

OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

1. Entries must have been owned and grown by the exhibitor for a minimum of six months (October 26, 2022) unless otherwise stated in this schedule. Exceptions are as follows:

Classes 1–4 and 80–87: three-month ownership, January 26, 2023
Classes 92–93: nine-month ownership, July 26, 2022
Classes 94–105 and Class 118: one-year ownership, April 26, 2022

2. An exhibitor is permitted up to three entries per class, provided each is a different species or different cultivar.

PLANT/SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS

3. The maximum length of an entered cut specimen is 26” measured from the lip of the container to the end of the vine, branch, or leaf, unless otherwise specified in the class description. Exceptions apply to classes 88-91.
4. All cut specimens must be in show condition at the time of judging. Wilted specimens are subject to removal by the Horticulture Committee. See GCA Rules #4 regarding condition of plant material.
5. More than one plant per container is permitted, provided it is the same genus and same species unless otherwise stated in this schedule.
6. Leaf shine or other commercial foliage enhancers are not permitted.

CONTAINER REQUIREMENTS

7. Committee will provide plates for Classes 79-80, but exhibitors may use their clear glass container.
8. Containers are measured at the diameter or the diagonal of the widest point on the inside of the rim at the soil line. Containers may not exceed 10”. Exception to container size applies to Classes 97, 104, and 112, which may not exceed 8″ and Class 118, which may not exceed 14″.
9. Container-grown plants should be exhibited in clean terracotta clay pots. Disguised double-potting and top dressing are permitted. Plastic pots, if used, must be double potted inside a terracotta clay pot. Top dressing must not float when watered. Coffee grounds are not permitted as a top dressing. Moss is permissible as a top dressing.
10. To designate a preferred exhibiting side, exhibitors should mark the center back of the container with a white chalk mark “X”.
11. Mats, stands and saucers are not allowed. If an entry is staked (such as a forced bulb or an orchid), the support must be as unobtrusive as possible.

ENTRY CARDS

12. Entry cards are available for download from flohouston.org and from GCAmerica.org, from the division chairs or the horticulture committee in advance of the show, and at the show.
13. An entry card must include the name of the exhibitor, division, class, botanical and common names, and length of ownership. Entry card must be printed in pencil or generated by computer in black ink.
14. Entry cards printed from flohouston.org or GCAmerica.org should be printed on white cardstock. A key card (diagram or plant list) is required when multiple species or cultivars are exhibited in the same container. Key card must be in pencil on a 4″ x 6″ white unlined card or completed online and printed on cardstock in black ink and be legible. See GCA website for required information. A 4″ x 6″ photograph with identifying numbers may be used to supplement the key card.
15. A GCA horticulture propagation card, if applicable to the entry, should be downloaded from GCAmerica.org and printed on white cardstock. Information must be legible.
16. Entries eligible for the Elizabeth Platt Corning Medal and/or the Louise Agee Wrinkle Horticulture Propagation Award must have been grown by and in the possession of the exhibitor for at least six months (October 26, 2022) and will be identified by a checkmark on the entry card. Entries eligible for the Novice Award also will be identified by a checkmark on the entry card. A novice is an individual exhibitor who has not won a first place ribbon or a GCA Special Award in Horticulture of a GCA Major Flower Show or Sanctioned Non-GCA Major Flower Show.

ENTRY PROCESS

17. Only GCA club members, Museum personnel, and plant experts approved by the Horticulture Division Chairs may be in the passing area of the Show. Only GCA club members may participate in the entry process. Exhibitors bear their ultimate responsibility for their own entry.
18. Plant Inspection is the first station in the physical entry process. Plant Inspection closes at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, and no entries will be accepted at Plant Inspection after 9:00 a.m. Any entry presented at Plant Inspection after 9:00 a.m. may not be entered into the Show.
19. A dot with the entry number will be affixed to the container, to the entry card, and to the key card (if applicable) in order to ensure accurate staging and judging.
20. Once an entry has been passed, it may not be touched by anyone other than the placement committee, the horticulture chairs, the show chairs, or the clerks.
21. Classes may be subdivided, and entries moved and/or reclassified at the discretion of the horticulture committee, the show chairs, and/or the judges.

JUDGING

22. Entries will be judged on horticultural merit and conformance to schedule.

REMOVAL

23. All exhibits must remain as placed and judged until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Container plants will be held until Friday, April 28, 2023, at 8:00 a.m., and cut specimens will be discarded if not retrieved by 8:20 a.m. Exhibitors are responsible for their own entries.

EMERGE – CUT SPECIMENS (Classes 1–91)

Specimen(s) not to exceed 26” in length from lip of container to tip of stem (lip to tip rule), unless exception is stated in Class Description.

Classes 1–4. Annuals

An annual is a plant that normally completes its life cycle (germination, flowering, seeding, dying) in one growing season. Three-month ownership requirement (January 26, 2023).

Blooming

Three stems, same species or same cultivar, in a single container. Any foliage must be attached to stem.

Class 1. Delphinium