Horticulture is one of the mandatory divisions in the show. Club members take special care to nurture their plants through the growth cycle, and select entries based on what has reached its peak of perfection on the day of the show. Specimens are meticulously groomed to remove blemishes or debris and artfully staged to show off the plant’s best features. It’s important for visitors to note that judging occurs before the show is open to the public, and exhibits may not be at their best one or two days later. Judges consider the following:

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• Nomenclature—does it have its correct scientific binomial name consisting of genus and species or cultivar?

• Maturity—is it at the pinnacle of its growth cycle? Is it immature so that it doesn’t show the plant at full peak, or over-mature and showing signs that it is past its prime?

• Quality—is it in excellent health, without blemishes or bruises, demonstrating balance, color, form, and symmetry based on a knowledge of the plant in its ideal state?

• Presentation—is it displayed at its best, carefully groomed and staged to show off its best features?

• Conformance—does it meet the requirements set out in the show schedule, such as length or sets of leaves?