Awards to exhibits

Judging of exhibits occurs before the show opens on the first day of the show.

All exhibits are judged using standard criteria - they are not judged against each other, and there is no limit to the number of medals the judges can award.

There are four grades of medals than can be awarded:

No awards are made to exhibits judged to be below Bronze standard.

Medals, with the exception of the Gold Medal which is not further qualified, are available in the following ranges according to the type of exhibit:

Exhibits of flowers and ornamental plants will be awarded in the FLORA medal range.

Exhibits of fruit will be awarded in the HOGG medal range.

Exhibits of vegetables will be awarded in the KNIGHTIAN medal range.

Exhibits of special scientific or educational interest will be awarded in the LINDLEY medal range.

Exhibits of pictures, photographs, floral arrangements or floristry will be awarded in the GRENFELL medal range.

	THE GOLD MEDAL. Instituted in 1898. Re-designed in 1929. Awarded for exhibits of special excellence.
	THE FLORA MEDAL. Instituted in 1835 and first struck in 1836 as the Society’s Large Medal replacing the original of 1811, renamed Flora Medal in 1864.
	THE BANKSIAN MEDAL. Instituted in 1820 in commemoration of Sir Joseph Banks, FRS, one of the founders of the Society.
	THE KNIGHTIAN MEDAL. Instituted in 1836 in honour of Thomas Andrew Knight, FRS, President of the Society from 1811 to 1838. Awarded for exhibits of vegetables.
	THE LINDLEY MEDAL. Instituted in 1866 in commemoration of Dr John Lindley, FRS, sometime Secretary of the Society. Awarded for an exhibit of special scientific or educational interest.
	THE HOGG MEDAL. Instituted in 1898 in commemoration of Dr Robert Hogg, the great pomologist, sometime Secretary of the Society. Awarded for exhibits of fruit.
	THE GRENFELL MEDAL. Instituted in 1919 in commemoration of Field Marshal Lord Grenfell, President of the Society, 1913 to 1919.

Full regulations for the Society’s flower shows are available from the RHS Shows Department.