Bearded Irises, Tall Bearded Irises, Iris Bloom Times, Award-Winning Irises
Bearded Irises are magnificent perennials that deserve a place in any garden. Available in a veritable rainbow of colors, they reward us with breathtaking colors from early spring through high summer, and sometimes again in the fall! Easy to grow, they require little maintenance, multiply readily, are deer or rabbit resistant, and quite drought tolerant once established.
The rainbow of available Iris varieties grows year after year with the regular introduction of new iris cultivars. When it comes to selecting the perfect Bearded Iris for your spring garden, the task may become daunting as there are thousands and thousands (!!!) of Bearded Iris cultivars available to choose from. A good start in your selection process would be to review those of outstanding merit as acknowledged by the American Iris Society via the Dykes Medal.
The Dykes Medal is the highest iris award available of the American Iris Society (AIS). It was created in 1927, in memory of William Rickatson Dykes, a botanist, horticulturist, plant breeder, prolific author, and the foremost authority on irises. In 1925, W.R. Dykes died as a result of a motor accident, his death creating a ripple of shock and Ioss to the entire world of gardeners. At a meeting of the British Iris Society in 1926, it was decided to award a medal to the hybridizer of the outstanding iris variety of each year in memory of Mr. Dykes, a way of keeping his name alive and warm in all the hearts of iris lovers.
The Dykes Medal has become the most highly coveted, highly prized iris award dreamed of by all iris hybridizers. It is awarded to no more than one iris per year.
What does it take to become a Dykes Medal Winner? A lot. It may take up to 11 years from introduction to eligibility and all candidates must go through rigorous qualifications and undergo 6 years of testing in all American climates and conditions.
If you have a Dykes Medal winner, you know that you have got of the most outstanding Bearded Irises in the world, and one you can fully rely on.
Here is a list of some fabulous Dykes Medal winners. Hopefully these 'best of the best' Bearded Irises will help you create a gorgeous spring garden!
| Hardiness |
3 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Genus | Iris germanica |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
| Landscaping Ideas | Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
akispalette / 123RF Stock Photo
| Hardiness |
3 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Genus | Iris germanica |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
| Landscaping Ideas | Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
