SC FFA Floriculture and Nursery/Landscape
South Carolina FFA: Future Farmers of America
Floriculture and Nursery/Landscape Career Development Events
FFA Contest Saturday, March 21, 2026
Floriculture CDE check in by 9:00am and Nursery & landscape CDE by 1:00pm, Check in is located in the SCC Health Science Building lobby
Floriculture CDE Information
Written Test: 1996 Exam (PDF), 1999 Exam (PDF), 2000 Exam (PDF)
Problem Solving Team Event: 2011 Floriculture Practice Exam (PDF)
Floriculture Plant Identification List (Plant List Images):
- This is a list of 50 floriculture plants from which 25 live specimens will be given for proper identification.
- Score Sheet PDF
Floriculture Practicum:
Pinching Plants: (75 points) (Individual)
Contestants will demonstrate the ability to properly perform a soft and hard pinch on an herbaceous greenhouse plant.
Objectives:
- Contestants should demonstrate the ability to properly evaluate the locations to properly pinch a plant for the purpose of controlling its vertical growth habit
- Contestants should apply proper techniques when making a soft pinch
- Contestants should apply proper techniques when making a hard pinch
- Contestants should be able to evaluate the overall effect of their pinch on the plant
Floral Arrangement: (65 points) (Team)
Contestants will demonstrate the ability to properly arrange foliage and flowers to create a worthy retail arrangement.
Objective:
- Contestants should be familiar with the suggested Design, Balance, and Functionality suggested in the FFA CDE floriculture manual to properly design a retail floral arrangement.
Landscape Estimating (Team, 100 points)
- Landscape Estimating Practice Exam
- Landscape Estimating Practice Design
- Students will need a calculator and engineering scale for this portion of the contest.
- Students will need to evaluate a landscape design, determine scale, plant identification and spacing, determine calculations and pricing related to the drawing provided.
Push Mower Equipment Maintenance (50 points)
Contestants will demonstrate the ability to perform basic landscape equipment maintenance.
Objective:
- Contestants will demonstrate the ability to evaluate the need and procedure for performing proper maintenance on common landscape maintenance equipment.
- Contestants should be familiar with (but not limited to) possible equipment maintenance needs, operational procedures, servicing procedures and basic equipment troubleshooting.
Horticulture Programs
Jay Moore | Department Chair
Phone: (864)592-4281