Orchid Awards & Judging

Orchid Awards & Judging

AOS awards are recognized as a benchmark of quality worldwide and pursued by hobbyists and commercial growers alike.

AOS Judging takes place at dozens of judging center locations across the US and Canada, and affiliated society sponsored shows and outreach judgings.

Awards

Learn more about the awards program

Orchid Photography

Explore photographing orchids

Latest Awards In Judging

Orchid Shows

The vast majority of orchid hobbyists discover their passion through local orchid shows. AOS judges seek to serve the orchid community by providing orchid judging along with education at all judging events.

Learn more about orchid shows

Monthly Judging

Exhibitors are invited to join judging and bring plants to be judged if they wish. There are opportunities to learn at every judging and since these are public events, non-AOS members are welcome too.

Learn more about monthly judging

Outreach Judging

AOS Affiliated Societies can apply to host an outreach judging at their monthly society meetings. This is a great opportunity to educate the public about how AOS judging works.

Learn more about outreach judging

Discover Exhibiting Orchids

Pay for awards

Have you earned an award? Once you've been invoiced, you can pay for your award here.

Pay for awards

Pay for show fees

If your society has applied for a judged show, you can pay show and trophy fees here.

Pay for show fees

Judging Education

All judges participate in ongoing education to stay current with breeding trends.

Learn about Judging Education

Judging Forms

Judges utilize a variety of forms and score sheets during the process of judging.

Find Judging Forms

Judging Handbook

Judges abide by rules and regulations in the AOS Handbook on Judging.

Explore the Judging Handbook

How to Become an AOS Judge

Becoming an AOS judging is exciting and rewarding. Any AOS member can simply fill out an application and submit to their local judging center.

Learn more about becoming an AOS Judge

Judging Centers

Dozens of AOS judging centers located in the US and Canada are comprised of hundreds of judges who volunteer their time and expertise.

The judging centers support monthly judgings, AOS sanctioned shows, and affiliated society outreach judgings.

Judgings are open to the public and provide a wonderful educational experience.

Find a judging center near you

Awards & Judging FAQs

Have questions about the AOS awards program or judging?

We've got answers to the most frequently asked questions.

There may even be some questions you wouldn't know to ask.

Explore The FAQs

Species Identification

AOS Identification verifications are required through the Species Identification Task Force (SITF) for all botanical, horticultural, and first awards to species.

The task force consists of a group of dedicated volunteers and staff, with access to significant reference materials and taxonomic keys. Determinations are made using documented references and input from respected taxonomic authorities worldwide.

See the Latest SITF Submissions and Findings

Upload a Submission

SITF Photo Recommendations

OrchidPro Online Orchid Software

Search over 100K photos of award-winning orchids, view detailed award data, parentage, family trees, species makeup, and much more.

OrchidPro is the official online research tool used for all AOS judging events.

Access OrchidPro Online

Learn more about OrchidPro

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