The American Iris Society Announces the 2026 Wister Medal Winners

'SUNGLASSES NEEDED' - 'BRIGHT AND SHINING STAR' -

'ARIZONA CAVE PAINTING'

The Wister Medal is restricted to tall bearded (TB) irises. It is named in honor of John C. Wister (1887-1982). Three medals are awarded each year. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

John C. Wister led the organizing meeting that created the American Iris Society and became its first president, a position he held for 14. He guided the Society through its formative years. He was widely recognized as a man of rare management skills, leadership ability, and the highest ethical standards. R. S. Sturtevant wrote of him: "Probably few current members realize that the AIS started through the efforts and initiative of one man, John C. Wister...."

Tall bearded iris 'SUNGLASSES NEEDED'

Photo by Riley Probst

'Sunglasses Needed' (Steve Kelly, R. 2018). Seedling TAFCS 12-13. TB, 31" (79 cm), Early midseason bloom. Bright yellow self; beards bright gold; slight fragrance. 'That’s All Folks' X 'Coffee Song'. Introduced by Rockytop Gardens in 2019.

Tall bearded iris 'BRIGHT AND SHINING STAR'

photo by Jeanette Graham

'Bright and Shining Star' (Paul Black, R. 2020). Seedling Y23B. TB, 32" (81 cm), Early to midseason bloom. Standards white; style arms pale smoky violet, mid brass-gold crests; falls white, mid grey haft veins, narrow mid purple stitched plicata band and narrow line from beard to edge; beard hairs based white, tips mid yellow; pronounced spicy fragrance. 'Out of the Dark' X seedling L81A, 'Out of the Dark' sibling. Introduced by Mid-America Gardens in 2020. 

Tall bearded iris 'Arizona Cave Painting'
photo by Riley Probst

'Arizona Cave Painting' (Douglas Kanarowski, R. 2020). Seedling #0601. TB, 38" (97 cm), Early to midseason bloom. Standards pastel yellow, pale peach midrib and base; style arms pale peach; falls pale sky blue, outer rim lightly stained pale apricot on distal edge, second rim pale ivory-blue, wider blackberry innermost band, large ivory zone, pale apricot-sandstone shoulder; beards fiery orange; slight spicy fragrance. 'Pop Idol' X 'Jelly Bean Parade'. Introduced by Mariposa Iris 2020.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

The American Iris Society Announces the 2026 American Dykes Medal Winner

'ALABAMA BLUE FIN'

First awarded in 1927, the American Dykes Medal is the highest award of the American Iris Society (AIS). It is named for William Rickatson Dykes (1877-1925) and is awarded to no more than one iris per year. Irises are eligible as a Dykes Medal candidate for three years following the winning of a classification medal. Only AIS-accredited judges may vote. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

Inter-species hybrid iris 'Alabama Blue Fin'
photo by Judy Schneider

'Alabama Blue Fin' - (Jill Copeland, R. 2016) Seedling Y-4. SPEC-X (pseudata), 38" (97 cm), Late midseason bloom. Standards cream-white; style arms edged light yellow, midrib darker, tips mid yellow; falls very light yellow washed violet, heart shaped signal violet-blue in throat blending to yellow to the center of petal then edged by violet-blue band with short sharp pointed lines into petal. Seedling GXS-2: ('Gubijin' x 'Sushi') X 'Christina’s Sister'. Introduced by Ensata Gardens in 2017.

The World of Irises blog will be posting classification medal winners as soon as the hybridizers are notified. The entire list of winners, including Award of Merit and Honorable Mention, will be published on the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.