AIS Awards

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 2026 Award Winning Irises and 2026 High Commendation seedlings.

2026 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	‘Alabama Blue Fin‘ (Jill Copeland 2017, SPX)
John C. Wister Medal (TB)	‘Sunglasses Needed‘ (Steve Kelly 2019)
John C. Wister Medal (TB)	‘Bright And Shining Star‘ (Paul Black 2020)
John C. Wister Medal (TB)	‘Arizona Cave Painting‘ (Douglas Kanarowski 2020)
Carparne-Welch Medal (MDB)	‘Ribbit‘ (Thomas Johnson 2020)
Cook-Douglas Medal (SDB)	‘Fruit At The Bottom‘ (Hugh Stout 2018)
Hans and Jacob Sass Medal (IB)	‘Stormbird‘ (Marky Smith 2018)
Knowlton Medal (BB)	‘Kiss The Frog‘ (Paul Black 2018)
Williamson-White Medal (MTB)	‘Flirtin’ Skirts‘ (Paul Black 2018)
Clarence G. White Medal (AR) Aril irises and Arilbred irises with at least 50% aril content	‘Eye Of Excellence‘ (Richard Tasco 2020)
William Mohr Medal (AB) Arilbred irises with at least 25% but less than 50% aril content	‘Sun And Snow‘ ( Richard Tasco 2018)
Sydney B Mitchell Medal (PCN)tie	‘California Born‘ (Joseph Ghio 2017)
W. A. Payne Medal (JI)	‘Midnight Fireworks‘ (Chad Harris 2014)
Mary Swords Deballion Medal (LA)	‘Acadian Sky‘ (Joseph Musacchia 2017)
Morgan-Wood Medal (SIB)	‘Art In Bloom‘ (Marty Schafer & Jan Sacks 2016)
Eric Nies Medal (SPU)	‘Mahogany Embers‘ (Lawrence Johnsen 2013)
Founders of SIGNA Medal (SPEC)	‘Whispering Clouds‘ (Chad Harris 2017)
Randolph-Perry Medal (SPEC-X)	‘French Buttercream‘ (Chad Harris 2016)
The Fred and Barbara Walther Cup Most HM votes in any category	‘Plumb Bob Line‘ (Lynda Miller 2024, MTB)

Previous Award Winners

Full information on the various medal and award winners from recent years are provided in the annual listings below.