Dwarf Iris Society

American Iris Society Awards

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.


Caparne-Welch Medal 2023


Black Olive (Black, 2013)

photo: Paul Black

Award of Merit 2023

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Kay (Johnson, 2017)

photo: Jeanette Grahan

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Gecko (Aitken, 2018)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

Gecko (Aitken, 2018)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

Honorable Mention 2023

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Gigabyte (Miller, 2020)

photo: Lynda Miller

Micron (Smith, 2018)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

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Orange Squeeze (Aitken, 2018)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

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Wee Note (Walker, 2021)

photo: Tom Waters

Zheng Elf (Moran, 2020)

photo: Anita Moran


Caparne-Welch Medal 2022

Rivulet (Keppel, 2012)

photo: Kevin Vaughn

Award of Merit 2022

Sapphire Jubilee (V. Spoon, 2013)

photo: Ginny Spoon

Bam (Tasco, 2017)

photo: Rick Tasco

Honorable Mention 2022

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


Caparne-Welch Medal 2021

Elf Esteem (Black, 2015)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Fairy Firefly (Aitken, 2015)

photo: Aitken's

Award of Merit 2021

Alas (Johnson, 2014)

photo: Kevin Vaughn

Wee Dragons (Miller, 2017)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Honorable Mention 2021

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


No Awards for 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no AIS awards were given in 2020.


Caparne-Welch Medal 2019

Beetlejuice (Black, 2013)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Award of Merit 2019

Elf Esteem (Black, 2015)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Fairy Firefly (Aitken, 2015)

photo: AAitken's Salmon Creek Garden

Honorable Mention 2019

Wee Dragons (Miller, 2017)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Bam (Tasco, 2017)

photo: Rick Tasco


Caparne-Welch Medal 2018

Kayla's Song (D. Spoon, 2009)

photo: Virginia Spoon

Award of Merit 2018

Black Olive (Black, 2013)

photo: Paul Black

Hot Coals (Aitken, 2014)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

Honorable Mention 2018

Small Token (Miller, 2014)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

Storm Compass (Chancellor/Rust, 2014)

photo: Virginia Spoon


Caparne-Welch Medal 2017

Cute as a Button (Black, 2010)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Award of Merit 2017

Beetlejuice (Black, 2013)

photo: Jeanette Graham

Rivulet (Keppel, 2012)

photo: Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden

Honorable Mention 2017

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