Iris Glossary
Iris have a color range that rivals the rainbow in every imaginable hue and tone. In our online catalog, we have included a detailed description along with a picture of each variety listed. It is sometimes difficult to capture in words or with a picture the subtle color combinations that occur in nature. If you disagree with the accuracy of our pictures or descriptions please feel free to call this to our attention. But remember color, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. We have tried to make our presentation as accurate as current technology allows.
Iris descriptions have their own specialized vocabulary. Iris can be categorized according to such characteristics as type, style of color pattern, season of bloom, height of bloom stem, and American Iris Society Awards received. You can search our catalog for these attributes in addition to color. The following is a glossary of terms that are used in our Iris descriptions and you can use to search for Iris in our online store.
Terms to Describe Iris
| Beard | Thick bushy hairs on the upper part of each of the three lower petals (falls). |
| Branch | Lateral extension of the main bloom stem that produces additional flowers. |
| Flare | Fall having an outward horizontal curve. |
| Falls | Three downward curving lower petals (sepals) of the flower. |
| Form | Structure or position of the petals that determines a flower's overall shape. |
| Horns | Long pointed growths protruding upward from the ends of the beards. |
| Haft | The upper part of falls that connects to rest of flower; shoulders next to beards. |
| Increase | New fans growing from the side of the rhizome. |
| Lace | Very frilled or crimped serrations on the outer edges of the petals. |
| Rhizome | Thick bulb-like underground stem having roots and leaves. |
| Ruffles | Bouncy, wavy or rolling form applied to the petals. |
| Signal | A spot pattern of different color on the falls just below the beard. |
| Spath | Leaf-like covering over the base of the flower (ovary). |
| Spoons | Horned-like growths with small petaloids protruding from beards. |
| Stalk | Tall stiff stem that terminates in flowers. |
| Stamen | Small match-like protrusion just beneath stylearms; flower's male reproductive part producing powdery pollen. |
| Standards | Three upward arching petals of the flower. |
| Stigma | Lip-like growth near end of the stylearms; flower's female reproductive organ. |
| Stylearms | Small stiff segments in flower's center shielding the base of the falls; holds female reproductive organ (stigma). |
| Substance | Thickness of the petals; stiffness that determines durability of petal. |
| Texture | Surface sheen or finish of the petals (e. g.: velvety, satiny) |
| Bearded Iris | Iris identified by thick bushy hairs on upper part of the falls. Within the bearded group the American Iris Society has designated different categories of Iris based on stem height and season of bloom. |
| Tall Bearded Iris | These are the gorgeous queens of the Iris world, with magnificent 6 to 7 inch blooms displayed on stems 29 to 40 inches high. These showy flowers are available in every color of the spectrum and proudly display themselves on branched stems carrying up to 12 buds each. Their later blooming flowers are the most popular of the Bearded Iris group. |
| Arilbred Iris | Derived from crosses between Tall Bearded Iris and Aril species these exotic half-breeds bloom just before their Tall Bearded cousins. They grow best in warm and dry parts of the country and are more tender with less vigor than the Tall Bearded. |
| Border Beared and Table Iris | These are essentially small versions of the Tall Bearded. Both have stem heights ranging from 16 to 28 inches and bloom at the same time as the Tall Bearded. Table Iris (i.e.: Miniature Tall Bearded) have daintier flowers and thin wiry stems. |
| Intermediate Iris | These Iris also have stem heights that vary from 16 to 28 inches but their bloom season arrives just after the Dwarf Iris and finishes just before the Tall Bearded. Cheer your early garden with these little charmers at tulip time. |
| Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris | Ranging in Height from 9 to 15 inches tall, these Iris have flowers 2 to 4 inches wide. Blooming just after the Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris in early spring, they are ideal for edgings and the fronts of borders. |
| Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris | These are the tiniest of the Bearded Iris, growing up to 10 inches in height with 2 to 3 inch flowers. They are the earliest of the Bearded Iris to bloom, and are perfect for rock gardens or the front of borders producing a blanket of color. |
| Beardless Iris | This is the largest and most diverse group of Iris is characterized by the conspicuous absence of a beard on their petals. This group contains literally hundreds of different Iris species. On our Web site we list two different groupings of Beardless Iris. |
| Siberian Iris | These Iris, contrary to their name, are not necessarily native to Siberia. They are certainly very cold hardy, vigorous and relatively maintenance-free. Flowers are 4 to 5 inches wide on stems ranging from 2 to 4 feet tall. Their graceful grass-like foliage and sturdy stems are naturally attractive in a border even when not in bloom. |
| Louisiana Iris | Hailing from Louisiana and the southern USA these Iris are naturally a water or bog plant. They present a spectacular range of color, including the truest red hue found in Iris. Flowers can range from 4 to 6 inches with stalks up to 4 feet high. These cold-hardy, disease-resistant Iris are at home almost everywhere in the garden, as well as on the edges of ponds. |
| Amoena | A bicolor with white standards and colored falls. A reverse amoena has white falls and a different color in its standards. |
| Bicolor | A lighter colored standard with falls of a different, deeper contrasting color. |
| Bitone | Two shades of the same color. Falls are usually darker. |
| Blend | A combination of two or more colors "blending" together. One is usually yellow. |
| Neglecta | A blue or violet bitone. |
| Plicata | Stitched margins of color on the rim of the petals. Usually having a white or yellow ground color. |
| Self | The same uniform color in both the standards and the falls. |
| Variegata | A bicolor with yellow or near yellow standards and deeper maroon, brown or purple falls. |
| Highly Commended (HC) | Award reserved for an unintroduced variety (seedling under number). Denotes variety is of merit and worthy of introduction. |
| Honorable Mention (HM) | First award an introduced Iris can win after it has been in commerce for two years. Indicates unusual quality. |
| Award of Merit (AM) | One of the most coveted AIS awards. Only eligible varieties are those in commerce over a period of time, which have won an Honorable Mention award. Indicates superior quality. |
| Clarence G. White Medal (CGW) | Special award reserved exclusively for a half-bred Aril Iris. Highest award in its class to an Arilbred Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| Hans and Jacob Sass Medal (SM) | Special award reserved exclusively for an Intermediate Iris. Highest award in its class to an Intermediate Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| Cook-Douglas Medal (CDM) | Special award reserved for Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris. Highest award in its class to a Standard Dwarf Bearded Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| Caparne-Welch Medal (CWM) | Special award reserved for a Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris. Highest award in its class to a Miniature Dwarf Bearded Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| Knowlton Medal (KM) | Special award reserved for a Border Bearded Iris. Highest award in its class to a Border Bearded Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| Williamson-White Medal (WW) | Special award reserved for a Miniature Tall Bearded Iris. Highest award in its class to a Miniature Tall Bearded Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| John C. Wister Medal (WM) | Special award reserved for a Tall Bearded Iris. Highest award in its class to a Tall Bearded Award of Merit winner. Very Superior quality. |
| Dykes Memorial Medal | The highest award any Iris can ever receive. An eligible Iris must have won the highest award in its class as well as proving itself to be an excellent all-around performer. The award is the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize or the Super Bowl for the Iris world. This queen of all Iris awards indicates a variety excellent quality. |
