HUMMINGBIRD GARDENS NURSERY

Please note that according to the American Iris Society, "The best time to dig and transplant irises is between one and two months after bloom season, usually in July or August."  So although orders may be taken at any time, irises will begin shipping in July.

American Iris Society Classification

An additional gardening information source, The American Iris Society, http://www.irises.org

Bearded Irises

Bearded Iris are identified by thick, bushy "beards" on each of the falls (lower petals) of the blossoms. Originally, most of these were native to central and southern Europe. The American Iris Society has divided the bearded irises into six groups for garden judging awards.

1. Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) -- the tiniest of bearded irises, with height of up to 20 cm (8 inches). They are also the

    earliest to bloom. They are most effective in rock gardens or planted in drifts where they make a "carpet of color."

2. Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB) -- (Grow 8-16" tall with flowers 3-4" across, and blooms just after the miniature dwarf iris.) 

    some of the most useful garden plants, ranging in height from 20 cm (8 inches) to 41 cm (16 inches). They begin their bloom

    as the MDBs are ending, still quite early in the iris season. They are best displayed in clumps where they give the effect of a

    "cushion" of individual blooms. The colors are nearly unlimited since the SDBs show all the different "spot patterns" of the

    miniatures, as well as the plicatas and pinks seen in the TBs.

3. Intermediate Bearded (IB) -- (Grow 16-27" tall with flowers 4-5" across, and blooms between SDB and TBs.)   

    stand from 41 cm (16 inches) to 70 cm (27 1/2 inches) high, with their bloom season overlapping the SBDs and the TBs.

    Although the IBs show their dwarf ancestry in early bloom season and very interesting color patterns, they are large enough

    that their individual stalks may be nicely branched, forming an elegant bouquet. Some varieties are nicest in clumps, where

    they present a large amount of color (like the SDBs), while others are showiest in specimen plantings, where the stalks and

    individual blooms may be seen to best advantage.

4. Border Bearded (BB) -- (Grow 16-27" tall with flowers 4-5" across, and blooms with the tall bearded irises.) essentially small

    versions of the TBs in the same height range and bloom size as the intermediates, but blooming with the tall beardeds. Good

    BBs have round, ruffled petals that complement their small size.

5. Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) -- (Grow 16-27" tall with flowers not more than 6" combined height and width, and blooms with

    the tall bearded irises.) this class is distinguished by daintiness and delicacy. Height from 41 cm (16 inches) to 70 cm (27 1/2

    inches). The blooms are smaller than on a BB and the stems are thin and wiry. An MTB clump looks like a cloud of butterflies.

    They are often called "Table Irises" because they are so well suited for arrangements.

6. Tall Bearded (TB) -- (Grow over 27" tall with flowers 4-7" across, and are the last iris variety to bloom.) have stalks with a

    height of 70 cm (27 1/2 inches) and above, with branching and many buds. Each stalk, in itself, makes a stately arrangement

    in the garden or in a vase. In addition to a wide variety of colors and patterns, the TBs display other qualities (such as ruffling

    and lacing) more frequently than do the other classes. 

Even if you grow nothing but bearded irises, you can enjoy a remarkable range of color and a bloom season extending for months. Some bearded irises are "rebloomers", blooming again in the summer, fall or winter. Additional water and fertilizer applied during the summer months encourages them to bloom again. There are now reliable attractive rebloomers available which will perform in all but the coldest climates.

Incidentally, the word "median" refers to all the bearded irises except the miniature dwarfs and the tall beardeds; that is to say the SDBs, IBs, BBs and the MTBs. Strictly speaking, the word "dwarf" means only the MDBs.

Bloomtime The relative time of bloom for a variety within the bloom season.  The season is determined by the geographical climate.

(E) early

(M) mid

(L) late

(EM) early to mid, etc.

(RE) Rebloomers usually blooms again sometime after the normal spring bloom, most often in the fall.

Iris Descriptions

Standards upper three flower petals

Falls lower three flower petals

Beards bushy hairs on falls

Historic any iris introduced over thirty years ago

Space Ager iris with flounces, horns, or spoons

Color Patterns

(The only color not found in irises is true red.)

Amoena white standards; colored falls.

Banded band of different color around edge of falls and/or standards.

Bicolor Standards and falls are different color.

Bitone Standards and falls are different shades of the same color.

Blend Two or more colors blended together.

Broken Color Iris with random streaks of color.

Luminata Wash of color in falls with paler veining.

Neglecta Light blue standards; darker falls.

Plicata Speckled, stitched, or solid margin of color on lighter ground.

Self Standards and falls are the same color.

Variegata Yellos standards, darker colored falls.

Awards

The following list is a summary of medals and awards the American Iris Society (AIS) awards to tall bearded irises.  The iris family has many classification types:  tall bearded, Siberian, arilbred, spuria, dwarf bearded, Louisiana, Japanese, etc.

(DM) Dykes Medal Highest award given by the American Iris Society.  Given to only one iris per year.  All classification types are eligible.  Irises are eligible as a Dykes Medal candidate for three years following winning a classification medal; for tall bearded iris, this is the Wister Medal.  Voting is restricted to AIS registered judges.

(HM) Honorable Mention awards are awarded each year to irises of each classification. Registered tall bearded irises are eligible the second year after introduction. Registered beardless irises are eligible the third year after introduction.

(HC) High Commendation awards are reserved for seedling irises, under seedling number or registered name, which have not been introduced into commerce yet.  The seedlings are viewed by AIS judges.  Any seedling of any classification type receiving five votes is granted an HC Award.

(PC) President's Cup and (FC) Franklin Cook Cup   Annually the AIS holds a national convention in a selected region of the United States.  Hybridizers send their most recent introductions to the visitation gardens to be displayed for observation and judging.  The President's Cup is awarded to the most popular iris hybridized by a member within the host region.  The Franklin Cup is awarded to the most popular iris by a hybridizer from outside the host region.  Anyone attending the national convention may cast a vote.

Iris Symposium  Annually members of the AIS are eligible to vote by ballot for the One Hundred Favorite Tall Bearded Irises.  This is referred to as the Popularity Poll or Top 100.  Candidates included on the ballot includes:

The 100 top varieties from the previous year's Symposium.

The tall bearded iris eligible that year for the Dyke's Medal.

The tall bearded iris eligible that year for the Wister Medal.

The tall bearded iris eligible that year for the Award of Merit.

The tall bearded iris that won the Award of Merit the preious year.

The tall bearded iris that won an Honorable Mention the previous year.

Each AIS member is allowed to vote for a maximum of 25 varieties on the list.