The RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group (formally known as the Joint Rock Garden Plant Committee, or "Joint Rock") meets regularly at plant shows around the UK. The committee is made up of members of the Royal Horticultural Society, Alpine Garden Society and Scottish Rock Garden Club.
The purpose of the committee is to consider plants for various awards. The awards given are intended to draw attention to plants with good potential for the garden or for exhibition.
The Joint Rock awards for plants are:
- Preliminary Commendation (PC) to a new plant of promise.
- Award of Merit (AM) to plants that are of great merit (See point (1) below)
- First Class Certificate (FCC) to plants of outstanding excellence.
- Botanical Certificate (BC) to plants of exceptional botanical interest (but not necessarily potential garden or exhibition plants).
Exhibitors may receive awards for skill in growing a plant:
Cultural Commendation (CC) to growers whose exhibits show evidence of great cultural skill.
(1) The AM should not be confused with the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) which is awarded to plants that have been assessed (usually by carrying out a trial) for their garden worthiness. AGMs for alpines and rock plants are ratified by the Alpine and Rock Garden Expert Group.