Again we will look at a simple hypothetical Show Schedule showing typical classes and explaining the distinctions of each.

FUCHSIA CLASSES

BEGINNERS CLASSES

Class. 1 BEGINNERS CLASS
Description: One plant any cultivar
Pot Size: 3.5"(90mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

This class is solely for beginners and as described in the Mock Rule 5 - "A beginner is an exhibitor who has not yet won a 1st prize for fuchsias judged to BFS rules".

The description is one plant any cultivar – that is a cultivated variety (single, semi double or double)-– not a species and the maximum pot size is 3.5"(90mm).

The 1st – 2nd and 3rd information refers to the prize money – you are not going to be able to retire on this I’m afraid.

If you and your plant(s) meet the above criteria then you can enter this class.

Class. 2 BEGINNERS CLASS
Description: One plant any cultivar
Pot Size: 6.5"(165mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Again this class is for beginners and if you meet the qualifying criteria for class 1 you will be able to enter this class too. The pot size is a maximum of 6.5"(165mm) – note that this is a maximum you can have a smaller pot but not larger, any cultivar (single, semi double or double) – no species.

NOVICES CLASSER

Class. 3 NOVICE CLASS
Description: One plant any cultivar
Pot Size: 3.5”(90mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Similar to class 1 except that this class is solely for Novices and as described in Rule 6 of our mock rules - "A novice is an exhibitor who has not yet won two 1st prize for fuchsias judged to BFS rules".

Similarly the description is one plant any cultivar – that is a cultivated variety – not a species and the maximum pot size is 3.5”(90mm).

You can enter this class even though you may be a beginner as you met the qualification criteria of not having won two 1st prize for fuchsias judged to BFS rules.

If you and your plant(s) meet the above criteria then you can enter this class.

Class. 4 NOVICE CLASS
Description: One plant any cultivar
Pot Size: 6.5”(165mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

The same entry qualification as above with the pot size being a maximum of 6.5”(165mm)- note once more that this is a maximum you can have smaller but not larger, any cultivar – no species.

OPEN CLASSES

Class. 5
Description: One plant any cultivar
Pot Size: 3.5”(90mm)
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Now we are into the classes that are ‘open’ to anyone as long as the plants meet the criteria of the description which is one plant any cultivar – that is a cultivated variety – not a species and the pot size is 3.5”(90mm) - NOT MAXIMUM this time but an exact size.

Beginner and novices can enter these classes also, they are not restricted just to the beginner’s and novice’s classes – these classes are open to everyone.

Class. 6
Description: One plant any cultivar
Pot Size: Max: 5.5”(140mm).
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Open class and the description is one plant any cultivar and the maximum pot size of 5.5”(140mm)

You can show a plant in any size pot up to 5.5”(140mm)- (you can show a plant in 3.5” (90mm) pot but it would be again bigger plants and seems pointless when there is a specific class for these).

Class. 7
Description: One plant single or semi - double
Pot Size: 6.5”(165mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Open class – this time however the type of cultivar you are allowed to exhibit in this class is defined, a single (four petals) and a semi-double (up to eight petals) the maximum pot size is 6.5” (165mm) so you could once again show any pot up to that size in this class.

Class. 8
Description: One plant double flowered
Pot Size: 6.5”(165mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Open class – with only double (more than 8 petals) flowered cultivars eligible the maximum pot size is 6.5”(165mm) so once again pots up to that size are permissible.

Class. 9
Description: One plant Triphylla type
Pot Size: 8.5”(216mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Open class – with any of the recognised Triphylla (terminal flowering) type of cultivars able to be shown in this class.

The British Fuchsia Society have formulated a list of the Triphylla types acceptable under their judging standards and if you are intending to exhibit these types of plants you will need to have a copy of this list.

The maximum pot size is bigger in this class at 8.5”(216mm) to reflect the proportions that the Triphylla types a can attain.

Once again pots up to that size are permissible.

Class. 10
Description: One plant species including sub species and variants, but excluding Section Encliandra
Pot Size: a.s.p.
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Still in the open classes this class is for species and species variants. The BFS produces a list of species and the variants acceptable under their judging standards. Once again if you are intending to exhibit species and species variants you will need to have a copy of this list.

Section Encliandra is a special group of species and species hybrids that have small leaves and flowers. Decorative fruit can be allowed to develop as an added attraction however the BFS state that it is desirable for the plant to have more flowers than fruit.

The pot size for this class you class will notice is a.s.p. (any size pot) therefore as long as it is a standard pot you can use any size.

Class. 11
Description: One plant Encliandra type
Pot Size: 6.5”Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Once again the class is open to all and is for plants of the Encliandra section, as before the BFS have produced a list of acceptable species and hybrids from this section.

If you are intending to exhibit plants from this section you will need to have a copy of this list.

Decorative fruit can be allowed to develop as an added attraction however the BFS state that it is desirable for the plant to have more flowers than fruit.

Note that the pot size has reverted back to a maximum of 6.5” so pots up to this size can be entered into this class.

Class. 12
Description: One plant ornamental foliage
Pot Size: 6.5”(165mm)Max
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

Open class for plants with ornamental foliage and although most plants of this type will show two or more colours some cultivars have only a single colour in the leaf tissue but may be veined with a different colour.

In this class you don’t really want flowers on the plant and if present they will be ignored by the judge according to BFS judging procedures. Certain types of ornament foliage are not allowed, these include the Triphylla with bronze/reddish foliage and those with green leaves whether veined or not.

The maximum pot size is 6.5”(165mm) and pots up to that size are permissible.

Class. 13
Description: One plant mini -standard
Pot Size: 5.25”(133mm)
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

An open class for a plant grown on a single stem with a length measured from the level of the compost to the bottom of the first branch which forms the head of not less than 6” (152mm) or more than 10” (254mm).

In accordance with BFS judging standards the only size of pot permitted for this type of exhibit is 5.25”(133mm) diameter.

Class. 14
Description: One plant quarter standard
Pot Size: a.s.p.
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

An open class for a plant grown on a single stem with a length measured from the level of the compost to the bottom of the first branch which forms the head of not less than 10” (254mm) or more than 18”(457mm).

The pot size for this class is a.s.p. (any size pot) therefore as long as it is a standard pot you can use any size.

Class. 15
Description: One plant full or half standard
Pot Size: a.s.p.
1st - £2.00 - 2nd - £1.50 - £1.00

This open class combines both the full and half standard, the full standard being of not less than 30” (762mm) or more than 42” (1067mm) and a half standard not less than 18” (457mm) or more than 30”(762mm). The pot size for this class you will notice is a.s.p.