Accredited judges of the AIS vote awards to irises of all types each year, based on their performance in gardens accross the US and Canada. The first such award is the honorable mention (HM). An iris must receive the HM to be eligible for the award of merit (AM). MDBs that have won the AM go on to compete for the Caparne-Welch medal, which is the highest award for MDBs. A complete list of Caparne-Welch winners, from 1950 to the present, is available on the AIS Iris Encyclopedia.
Click on the name of an iris to view its page in the AIS Iris Encyclopedia.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no awards were given in 2020 and two sets of awards were given in 2021.
Gecko (Aitken, 2018)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Micron (Smith, 2018)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Zheng Elf (Moran, 2020)
photo: Anita Moran
Rivulet (Keppel, 2012)
photo: Kevin Vaughn
Sapphire Jubilee (V. Spoon, 2013)
photo: Ginny Spoon
Bam (Tasco, 2017)
photo: Rick Tasco
Ribbit (Johnson, 2020)
photo: Kevin Vaughn
Hot Orange (Black, 2019)
photo: Paul Black
Water Goblins (Black, 2019)
photo: Paul Black
Twinkle Little Star (Black, 2020)
photo: Paul Black
Cubbie (Schreiner, 2018)
photo: Schreiners
Elf Esteem (Black, 2015)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Fairy Firefly (Aitken, 2015)
photo: Aitken's
Alas (Johnson, 2014)
photo: Kevin Vaughn
Wee Dragons (Miller, 2017)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Kay (Johnson, 2017)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Gecko (Aitken, 2018)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Minifigs (Miller, 2016)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Oh Grow Up (Miller, 2018)
photo: Lynda Miller
Tiny Clown (Johnson, 2019)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no AIS awards were given in 2020.
Beetlejuice (Black, 2013)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Elf Esteem (Black, 2015)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Fairy Firefly (Aitken, 2015)
photo: AAitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Wee Dragons (Miller, 2017)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Bam (Tasco, 2017)
photo: Rick Tasco
Black Olive (Black, 2013)
photo: Paul Black
Hot Coals (Aitken, 2014)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Small Token (Miller, 2014)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Storm Compass (Chancellor/Rust, 2014)
photo: Virginia Spoon
Beetlejuice (Black, 2013)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Rivulet (Keppel, 2012)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden
Elf Esteem (Black, 2015)
photo: Jeanette Graham
Sapphire Jubilee (V. Spoon, 2013)
photo: Virginia Spoon
Fairy Firefly (Aitken, 2015)
photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden