Entering Rose Horticulture
The American Rose Society Judges specimen blooms exhibited in uniform containers according to the following scale of points:
| Form | 25 |
| Color | 20 |
| Substance | 15 |
| Stem and Foliage | 20 |
| Balance and Proportion | 10 |
| Size | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Form: exemplifies the highest type of an exhibition rose, having many petals; formed, high-pointed center, in the most perfect phase of its possible beauty. Generally, this is when the bloom is “half-to three fourths” open.
Color: should be clean, fresh, pure, clear, and typical of the best specimen of that variety.
Substance: constitutes the quantity and quality of matter and turgidity in the petals. Texture, crispness, thickness, firmness, and stiffness of the petals must be sufficient to give stability and durability of form and finish to the bloom that determines the keeping quality of the rose.
Stem: must be primary, straight, with typical prickles or thorns; in proportion to the bloom; and of sufficient size and strength to support the bloom without undue bending. The length of the stem should be in proportion to the size of the bloom and should exhibit several five-or seven-leaflet leaves
Foliage: should be comparable in size with the bloom and stem, uniformly spaced, typical of the variety in quantity, size and color. It should be clean and free of the following: spray and dust residue, disease and insect damage, and additives.
Balance and Proportion: The overall pleasing appearance of the specimen, the relationship of size, form and location of each part in relation to the whole.
Size: Refers to the actual dimensions of the bloom. Seven or eight points are awarded the average size of a variety.
Classifying Roses
- Species Roses (wild roses)
- Old Garden Roses (Alba, Bourbon, Centifola, Damask, Hybrid China, Hybrid Eglanteria, Hybrid Gallica, Hybrid Multiflora, Hybrid Perpetual, Hybrid Sempervirens, Hybrid Setigera, Hybrid Spinosissima, Moss, Noisette, Portland, and Tea.)
- Modern Roses (Large-Flowered Climber, Floribunda, Grandiflora, Miniature, Mini-Flora, Polyantha, Classic Shrub, Hybrid Tea, Hybrid Wichuriana, and a large class of shrubs that include David Austin English roses.)
Definitions
- A Specimen is a single stem containing a bloom or blooms.
- A Bud is the stage of opening in which the sepals are down and the petals are just beginning to unfurl.
- A spray must have at least two blooms at exhibition stage.
- Buds are not blooms.
- Exhibition Stage is usually one-half to three-fourths open, depending on the variety.
- One bloom per stem is a specimen exhibited without side buds.
- Disbudding is the removal of side buds and should be done when just formed to avoid unsightly scars.
- Fully Open Bloom has stamen showing.
Reasons for Disqualification
Member Club Collections and most Challenge Classes
Exhibit with:
- Blooms with the same degree of openness at exhibition stage.
- Stems of the same length, or appearing to be of the same length, by placement in the vase.
- Foliage below the water line, which helps hold specimen upright in the vase without using wedging material.
- Wedging material not showing above the vase.
- Clean foliage framing the bloom.
- Thorns above the rim of the vase.
- Varieties must be correctly named on the entry tag.
- Arrange collection to give the most pleasing overall appearance.
