The American Iris Society
Official Garden Awards
Each year the accredited judges of The American Iris Society, by written
Official Ballot, cast their votes for the garden awards of the Society and
from this balloting, the Society's official garden awards are decided.
The first level award on the Ballot is the Honorable Mention (HM).
Miniature Dwarf (MDB), Standard Dwarf (SDB), Intermediate (IB),
Border (BB), Miniature Tall (MTB), Tall (TB), Aril (AR), and Arilbred
(AB) classes become eligible for the HM the second year following
official introduction. All other classes become eligible for the HM the
third year following official introduction. Eligibility for the HM award
does not expire until a variety wins the award, although a variety is listed
on the official ballot for only three years. Judges may vote for 10% of the
varieties listed, and the HM award is given to the 10% receiving the
greatest number of votes.
The next level is the Award of Merit (AM). All classes of irises become
eligible for this award two years after receiving the HM and remain on
the eligibility list for three years. Judges may vote for 10% of the
varieties listed, and the AM award is given to the 10% receiving the
greatest number of votes.
Two years after receiving the Award of Merit, an iris becomes eligible
for the Special Medal Award given for that particular class of iris. Judges
vote for a single variety in each class (3 in the TB class), and the award
goes to the ones receiving the highest number of votes.
The year after an iris wins one of the Special Medal Awards it becomes
eligible for the Dykes Medal and remains on the eligibility list for three
years. This is the highest award that an iris can win and is restricted to
those first originated and introduced in the United States or Canada.
Judges vote for a single variety, and the Dykes Medal is awarded to the
variety with the greatest number of votes regardless of class. In case of a
tie, a run-off vote is taken.
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