About this event
The team first gets 45 minutes for a real industry task, such as packing an order or building a display, plus up to 10 minutes to present it if the judges ask. It is worth 800 points. Each member then names 40 plants, tools and disorders in 25 minutes (200 points) and takes a 50-minute exam of 35 multiple choice questions and five problems (200 points). Three yearly practicums are worth 100 points each: a 20-minute floral arrangement, a 10-minute growing task (potting, propagation or pinching) with judges' questions, and a 20-minute retail pricing quiz. Two rotational practicums worth 75 points each come from this list: selling (a one-on-one role play or a media ad), a mixed planter, a body flower piece and greenhouse upkeep. Teams have four members, and all four scores count. The top score is 850 per member and 4,200 per team. The event is open to grades 7 to 12. FFA Official Dress is highly recommended. Students bring a clean clipboard, pencils, their own floral tools from an approved list and a basic five-function calculator. Decorative extras such as ribbon are not allowed, and tools may not be shared. State winners move on to the national event held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, October 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.
FormatTest + Skills
DurationTeam task 45 min plus up to 10 min presentation, ID 25 min, exam 50 min, arrangement 20 min, growing task 10 min, retail pricing 20 min, two rotational practicums of 10 to 20 min each
Solo or teamTeam of 4
CategoryPlant Systems
Your plan
How to study
Built from the official handbook. Take the check and read every lesson here with no account; a free account keeps your progress and opens flashcards, practice and full exams.
Find your weakest area
Take the 8-question check below: one question from each of the 8 biggest areas. It tells you where to start.
Start the checkLearn every area
Every area of the official handbook is below. Each has a short lesson, flashcards and practice, plus free reading.
See the areasPractice until every bar is full
Practice gives you one question at a time and leans toward the areas you miss. Your readiness meter fills as you get them right in every area.
PracticeTake a full exam at the real pace
40 questions in 50 minutes, the official length. Your readiness meter counts your last 3 full exams from the past 30 days, and 90% fills each one.
Take a practice exam
The areas of the exam
Wholesale flowers and materials: handling, storage and use
Floral design and arrangement
Marketing floral products
Plant science behind producing flowers, plants and foliage
Identification of plants, equipment and disorders
Growing procedures: potting, asexual propagation, pinching
Determining retail pricing
Selling one-on-one and media selling
Mixed planter combinations
Body flower pieces
Greenhouse maintenance and management
Start here
Find your weakest area
8 questions, one from each of the 8 biggest areas of the Floriculture exam. Each one is graded the moment you answer, with the reason, and the last screen tells you which area to study first. No account needed.
Judging
What judges score
Selling one-on-one
- Took initiative11
- Communicated effectively11
- Exhibited ambition and efficiency11
- Diplomatic and courteous11
- Knew merchandise, prices and policies11
- Accuracy of information collected11
- Closed sale properly9
Media selling
- Identified and appealed to target group12
- Informed the consumer9
- Creativity9
- Organization and format9
- Presented one idea9
- Contained essential information9
- Grammar, spelling, accuracy9
- Use of provided material9
Team activity preparation
- Established team leadership role50
- Member participation in planning activity125
- Developed a workable plan to reach team project goal125
- Teamwork displayed during the entire planning process75
- Technical value, correct information, realistic plan75
- Plan outlined to complete the task and present a sellable proposal or product75
Team activity presentation
- Member participation during presentation100
- Quality and completion of assigned tasks175
Exam day
What to expect
40-question written exam in 50 minutes
Official format: Team task 45 min plus up to 10 min presentation, ID 25 min, exam 50 min, arrangement 20 min, growing task 10 min, retail pricing 20 min, two rotational practicums of 10 to 20 min each.
Written from the handbook
The exam covers the areas the event's handbook lists, from the references it names. Practice questions here are drawn from the same areas.
How you advance
How many advance from districts to states and on to the National FFA Convention & Expo (National Convention) depends on your association's rules. Study the official handbook: it lists every part of the event and how each is scored.
Exam format
- Time limit50 minutes
- Questions40 questions
- TeamTeam of 4
Competition levels: District Career Development Events, then State Career Development Events, then National FFA Convention & Expo
Official reference books
Listed in the official FFA handbook. Your school or public library may have them.
- Principal of Floral Design [sic], Pat Diehl Scace and James M. DelPrince, Goodheart Wilcox Publisher (paid book)
- The AIFD Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, and Traditions, American Institute of Floral Design (paid book)
- Introduction to Horticulture Science and Technology, 5th edition, Interstate Publishers, 2015 (paid book)
- Introductory Horticulture, Carroll Shry and Edward Reiley, 8th edition (paid book)
- Greenhouse Operation and Management, Paul V. Nelson, 7th edition (paid book)
- Ball Redbook, Volumes 1 and 2, 18th edition, Ball Publishing (paid book)
Guidelines and resources
Bookmark to saveCurated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.