Award Overview
High Commendation (HC) awards are reserved for seedling irises, viewed in the garden by AIS judges, under seedling number or registered name, which have not been introduced into commerce yet. Any seedling of any established classification that receives five votes is granted an HC award. Only AIS registered judges may vote.
Honorable Mention (HM) awards are given each year to irises of each classification. Registered bearded irises are eligible the second year after introduction. Registered beardless irises are eligible the third year after introduction. Only AIS registered judges may vote.
Award of Merit (AM) awards are given to irises from each classification each year. Any iris is eligible the second year after previously winning an Honorable Mention (HM). Only AIS registered judges may vote.
Medals: Each year there are medals awarded to irises of each specific classification type. This is the top award for each AIS iris classification type. Irises are eligible as a candidate for a medal the second year after they receive an Award of Merit (AM). One medal for each classification is given each year (except for the very popular tall bearded which awards 3 Wister Medals each year). Again, only AIS registered judges may vote. The following list details the different medals for the various iris classification types.
Dykes Memorial Medal: First awarded in 1927, the Dykes Medal is the highest award of the AIS. The iris which receives the geatest number of votes regardless of classification is designated the winner, in case of a tie, multiple medals shall be awarded. Irises are eligible as a Dykes Medal candidate for three years following the winning of a classification medal. Only AIS registered judges may vote.
Download a complete pdf list of the 2025 Award Winning Irises including High Commendation seedlings.
2025 AIS Medal Winning Irises
*Clicking on the links below will direct you off of this site to the AIS supported Iris Enclycopedia.
| Click on the Medal to read a history of each award | Clicking on the iris name to see a picture and description of each winner |
| Dykes Memorial Medal awarded to the best iris developed by an American hybridizer | ‘Royston Rubies‘ (Adam Cordes 2017) |
| John C. Wister Medal (TB) | ‘Dark Universe‘ (Keith Keppel 2019) |
| John C. Wister Medal (TB) | ‘Marry The Night‘ (Thomas Johnson 2017) |
| John C. Wister Medal (TB) | ‘Ghirardelli Square‘ (Keith Keppel 2016) |
| Carparne-Welch Medal (MDB) | ‘Kay‘ (Thomas Johnson 2017) |
| Cook-Douglas Medal (SDB) | ‘Blue Eyed Girl‘ (Thomas Johnson 2017) |
| Hans and Jacob Sass Medal (IB) | ‘Fried Green Tomatoes‘ (Hugh Stout 2019) |
| Knowlton Medal (BB) | ‘Frosty Spirit‘ (Richard Tasco 2017) |
| Williamson-White Medal (MTB) | ‘Pixie-Wan Kenobi‘ (Charles Bunnell 2016) |
| Clarence G. White Medal (AR) Aril irises and Arilbred irises with at least 50% aril content | ‘Chihuahua Night‘ (Howard Dash 2019) |
| William Mohr Medal (AB) Arilbred irises with at least 25% but less than 50% aril content | ‘Eye of The Storm‘ ( Michael Sutton 2017) |
| Sydney B Mitchell Medal (PCN)tie | ‘Ocean Roar‘ (Joseph Ghio 2017) |
| Sydney B Mitchell Medal (PCN) tie | ‘Wilder Ranch‘ (Joseph Ghio 2013) |
| W. A. Payne Medal (JI) | ‘Pink Playmate‘ (Chad Harris 2018) |
| Mary Swords Deballion Medal (LA) | ‘Katrina Rising‘ (Patrick O’Connor 2016) |
| Morgan-Wood Medal (SIB) | ‘Fiddles On Fire‘ (Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks 2017) |
| Eric Nies Medal (SPU) | ‘Wichita Lineman‘ (Jim Hedgecock 2014) |
| Founders of SIGNA Medal (SPEC) | ‘Violet Constellation‘ (Chad Harris 2018) |
| Randolph-Perry Medal (SPEC-X) | ‘Alabama Blue Fin‘ (Jill Copeland 2017) |
| The Fred and Barbara Walther Cup Most HM votes in any category | ‘Cowboy Coffee‘ (Michael Sutton 2023, BB) |