Intermediate Bearded - Starwoman

This lovely iris has been chosen as the winner of the American Dykes Medal, the highest award to an iris, for 2008. The hybridiser is Marky Smith and this picture was taken of one of the plants sent to us by Claire Austin Hardy Plants for our convention last year.                                            Photo by Wendy Payne

This beautiful thing is my favourite spuria. Registered by B. Jenkins. It won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 2006. The report described it as "An eye-catching, well-spiked iris, with dramatic chocolate-brown standards and bright yellow falls with margins and heavy veining of chocolate-brown, a good mid height for the smaller garden."

Sibirica - My First Kiss

At the American Iris Convention in Portland, this stunning siberian iris proved very popular. In spite of the rain, it shone out in several different gardens.

Iris unguicularis

The winter flowering iris that may bloom in mild spells from October through to March.

Formerly known as Iris stylosa, this iris makes a welcome sight through the long winter days. For it to succeed the plants do best in a sunny position, preferably against a south-facing wall. Brick rubble added to the planting hole will help ensure very free drainage.

It may take two or three years for the plant to settle in and produce flowers. A light feed of a high potash fertiliser applied in August and again in April after flowering is beneficial. The flowers nestle in the evergreen foliage and it is recommended that the leaves are cut back to approximately 25cm (10in) in late August so that you can enjoy the flowers. There is also the added bonus of a pleasant fragrance.  

Berney Baughen

It's difficult to choose one favourite iris, but this is a strong contender for me. It was raised by a American grower, Ben Hager and won the American Dykes Medal in 1993. When I first read the catalogue description, 'standards canary yellow falls blue-violet' I was not sure I would like it but I bought it and was really impressed when I saw the first flower. It is planted on the Trial Grounds at Wisley, so look out for it when you visit.