Spuria News - Spring 2026

by Wayne Messer 

The latest edition of Spuria News, the Newsletter of the Spuria Iris Society, published twice a year and available to Spuria Iris Society members is on its way.

Here are a few of the topics in this edition:

Missouri Ramblin by Jim Hedgecock is encouraging spuria hybridizing and hybridizers

A Blast From the Past by Darol Jurn has spurias at a Fall Iris Show, as well as separate articles on growing spurias from seeds and spuria iris culture

Request for Spuria Guest Iris Rhizomes for the 2029 Spuria Convention, Ramona, California

2026 Introductions

For those new to spurias, they are tall (2 to 5 feet in height) and elegant, and have very attractive foliage. The shape of the bloom often suggests orchids, and the colors range from white and yellow through blue, wine, and brown, often with bright yellow signals. This horticultural class is equivalent to the botanical Series Spuriae. The highest award is the Eric Nies Medal.

The Spuria Iris Society is a section of The American Iris Society, and is dedicated to expanding the public's knowledge of spuria irises. For more information about growing spuria irises and becoming a member of the Society, please visit their website.

Happy Gardening!

The American Iris Society Announces the 2022 Nies Medal Winner

'ODE TO A TOAD'

The Nies Medal is restricted to spuria irises. It is named in honor of Eric Nies (1884-1952). Eric Nies was born in Saugatuck, Michigan, but soon after Nies moved to California, he became interested in irises of all types. He obtained his first spuria irises from Jennett Dean, who operated one of the first iris specialist nurseries in the U.S. Spurias were his special interest. His first cross was Iris orientalis with 'Monspur' He interbred seedlings from this cross, and in the second generation there was a virtual explosion of color: blue, lavender, brown, bronze and cream. During his lifetime, Nies was recognized as the foremost breeder of spuria irises in the world. Marion Walker took over his seedlings and breeding lines after he died in 1952.

Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'Ode To A Toad'

photo by Michaela Lango

'Ode To A Toad' (Brad Kasperek, R. 2012) Seedling #6SP-120B. SPU, 38" (97 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards rich red-brown maroon; style arms mottled brown and purple; falls orange-gold, rimmed and veined smoky red-brown maroon. 

'Wyoming Cowboys' X 'Missouri Orange'. Introduced by Zebra Gardens in 2012.

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 2021 Nies Medal Winners

'IBEX IBIS' and 'STEELY DON'

The Nies Medal is restricted to spuria irises. It is named in honor of Eric Nies (1884-1952). Eric Nies was born in Saugatuck, Michigan, but soon after Nies moved to California, he became interested in irises of all types. He obtained his first spuria irises from Jennett Dean, who operated one of the first iris specialist nurseries in the U.S. Spurias were his special interest. His first cross was with I. orientalis with 'Monspur' He interbred seedlings from this cross, and in the second generation there was a virtual explosion of color: blue, lavender, brown, bronze and cream. During his lifetime, Nies was recognized as the foremost breeder of spuria irises in the world. Marion Walker took over his seedlings and breeding lines after he died in 1952.

Editor’s Note: Due to the pandemic last year, the American Iris Society Board of directors suspended garden awards. As a result, and only for this year, two medals will be awarded in each area. Previous awards winners can be found at https://wiki.irises.org/Main/InfoAwards.

'IBEX IBIS' (Brad Kasperek)

'Ibex Ibis' (Brad Kasperek, R. 2012) Seedling #SPH-350. SPU, 45 (114 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards and style arms light medium lavender; falls bright medium yellow center darkening to gold at the crest of style arm, light medium lavender rim; slight fragrance. Parentage unknown. Zebra Gardens 2012.

STEELY DON (J. T Aitken)

'Steely Don' (J. Terry Aitken, R. 2012) Seedling #05SPU-2A. SPU, 54" (137 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards steely blue-grey outside, washed inside with white at midribs blending to blue at rim; style arms steely blue-grey; falls pale lemon-yellow, light steely blue-grey veins and petal edges. 'Missouri Clouds' X unknown.

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 in the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia, and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.

2019 The Eric Nies Medal

The American Iris Society

Announces

The Eric Nies Medal 2019

‘Red War Clouds’

'Red War Clouds'--image by Andi Rivarola

'Red War Clouds' ( Lee Walker, R. 2009). Seedling #97-60-1. SPU, 40" (102 cm). Midseason bloom. Standards and falls dark red-maroon; style arms red grey, red tip; signal medium yellow; slight fragrance. 'Zulu Chief' X seedling #93-16-2: ( 'Countess Zeppelin' x 'Pink Candles'). Wildwood 2010. Honorable Mention 2013, Award of Merit 2017.

This medal is restricted to spuria irises. It is named in honor of Eric Nies (1884-1952). Eric Nies was born in Saugatuck, Michigan, but soon after Nies moved to California, he became interested in irises of all types. He obtained his first spuria irises from Jennett Dean, who operated one of the first iris specialist nurseries in the U.S. Spurias were his special interest. His first cross was with I. orientalis with 'Monspur’ He interbred seedlings from this cross, and in the second generation there was a virtual explosion of color: blue, lavender, brown, bronze and cream. During his lifetime, Nies was recognized as the foremost breeder of spuria irises in the world. Marion Walker took over his seedlings and breeding lines after he died in 1952.

The World of Irises blog will be posting once a day all of the medal winners. The entire list of winners can be found at the AIS website, the AIS Encyclopedia and later in the AIS Bulletin, IRISES.