The award-winning cattleya orchid, “C of O Green Fuzz.”

The horticulture program at College of the Ozarks has received a prestigious Award of Merit from the American Orchid Society for one of its Cattleya orchids, recognizing the plant’s exceptional quality among competitive orchid exhibits.

Since receiving this award, the College was able to give the winning orchid a name. Its complete name is Rhyncholaeliocattleya Rio's Green Magic 'C of O Green Fuzz' AM/AOS.

The award was presented during the Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis show held in late January. The Award of Merit, commonly known as an AM, is granted to orchids that demonstrate superior characteristics compared with others of the same type.

“Like anything, there are better forms, better colors, and better presentations of plants,” said Nathan Bell, greenhouse supervisor and American Orchid Society trustee. “We were fortunate enough to receive that recognition. We usually win a couple of awards each year across the shows we attend, but getting one at the first show of the year is a fun way to start the show season.”

Orchids, particularly Cattleya varieties, mature slowly and require years of attentive care before reaching their peak blooming potential. Many bloom only once per year, meaning growers must wait patiently for the right moment when a plant produces its best flowers.

“Sometimes it simply comes down to age,” Bell said. “You need a mature plant that can support a strong blooming season.”

Successful orchid cultivation involves a combination of factors, including proper care and strong genetic potential. Not all plants within the same hybrid variety produce identical flowers, so growers continually evaluate their collections to identify and maintain the highest-performing plants.

“Part of it is genetics,” Bell said. “The plant has to have the ability to produce a quality flower. Our process is constantly looking for the best plants and gradually phasing out the ones that aren’t performing as well.”

The College of the Ozarks orchid collection regularly participates in five to six orchid shows each year throughout the Midwest. These events are hosted by local orchid societies that invite exhibitors to display their plants.

Nathan Bell, greenhouse supervisor and American Orchid Society trustee, in the orchid greenhouse.

During the shows, exhibitors assemble displays featuring orchids that happen to be in bloom at that time. Judges from the American Orchid Society evaluate individual plants and displays based on a standardized scoring system.

“Sometimes the timing works out perfectly and you have incredible plants in bloom,” Bell said. “Other times it’s just the luck of the draw.”

While Bell transports and shows the orchids at the events, students play a big role in preparation. They assist with grooming the plants, cleaning pots and leaves, and helping design display arrangements ahead of time.

“In this instance, a couple of students helped plan how we wanted to present the plants,” Bell said. “They set up the display here on campus, so we could have a plan before traveling to the show.”

The award-winning orchid was evaluated using the American Orchid Society’s quality judging system, which relies on a point-based scoring method. Plants scoring between 75 and 79.4 receive a quality award, while orchids scoring between 80 and 89.9 earn the Award of Merit. The highest classification, scoring 90 points or above. Close to 100 out of thousands receive the highest classification yearly.

“It’s based on a scorecard where judges evaluate the flower’s form, color, size, presentation and overall arrangement,” Bell said. “At least three judges score the plant, and the average determines the final award.”

Receiving an Award of Merit places the College’s orchid among the higher-quality flowers recognized within the judging system.

Beyond competitions, the American Orchid Society promotes orchid education, conservation and research worldwide. The organization has roughly 10,000 members, primarily in the United States and Canada, and supports scientific studies and conservation projects aimed at protecting orchid habitats.

Bell currently serves as a trustee for the organization, helping oversee governance, policy and financial operations.

For the College of the Ozarks horticulture program, the award reflects years of careful cultivation and a commitment to excellence in plant science.

“It’s a lot of work to transport plants, prepare displays, and travel to shows,” Bell said. “But seeing a plant you’ve cared for bloom beautifully and receive recognition makes it all worthwhile.”