Iris Industry Glossary (A–Z)

• Amoena — A color pattern with white standards (upright petals) and colored falls (downward petals).

• Anther — The part of the stamen that produces and releases pollen.

• Award of Merit (AM) — An intermediate award given by the American Iris Society (AIS) to high-performing irises.

• Beard — The fuzzy, caterpillar-like structure on the falls of bearded irises.

• Bitone — An iris with two shades of the same color—lighter standards and darker falls.

• Blend — A smooth mix of two or more colors across the petals.

• Bloom Season (Early, Mid, Late) — The time during the iris blooming period when a cultivar flowers.

• Bloomstalk (Scape) — The stem that supports the flowers.

• Broken Color — A pattern with irregular splashes or streaks of color, often from genetic mutation.

• Bud Count — The number of flower buds produced on a single bloomstalk.

• Clump — A group of iris rhizomes growing together.

• Collector Iris — A rare or hard-to-find iris, often sought after by enthusiasts.

• Color Pattern — The classification of an iris based on how color is distributed (e.g., Amoena, Plicata, Bitone).

• Corm — A bulb-like structure found in some iris species (not typical for bearded irises).

• Cultivar — A cultivated variety of iris selected for specific traits.

• Division — The process of separating rhizomes to propagate new plants.

• Dorsal (Style Arm) — Petal-like structure above the falls that helps cover the reproductive parts.

• Edge (Petal Edge) — The outer margin of a petal; may be ruffled, laced, or smooth.

• Fall — The lower, downward-curving petals of the iris flower.

• Flounce — An exaggerated, ruffled, or frilly petal edge.

• Form — The shape and structure of the iris flower.

• Fragrant — An iris that emits a noticeable scent.

• Garden Judge — An AIS-trained individual who evaluates irises for awards.

• Gold Medal (Dykes Medal) — The highest award given by the AIS for outstanding irises.

• Historic Iris — An iris introduced 30 or more years ago.

• Hybridizer — A person who breeds new iris varieties.

• IB (Intermediate Bearded) — Iris classification between dwarf and tall bearded types.

• Iris Borer — A destructive pest that tunnels into rhizomes.

• Lace / Laced — A delicate, often lighter-colored edging along the petals.

• Median Iris — A group including smaller irises like IB, BB, and MTB.

• Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) — Tall but slender irises with delicate blooms.

• Neglect Tolerant — An iris that performs well with minimal care.

• NOID - No Identification - the term used to flag irises that the identification information was lost or never known.

• Oncocyclus — A group of desert irises known for dramatic markings and large blooms.

• Plicata — A pattern with dotted or stitched edging on a lighter background.

• Pod — The seed capsule formed after successful pollination.

• Pollen — The male reproductive material used in hybridizing.

• Rebloom / Remontant — An iris that blooms more than once in a growing season.

• Rhizome — The thick, horizontal root structure from which iris plants grow.

• Ruffled — Petals with wavy or heavily textured edges.

• Self — An iris with uniform color across standards and falls.

• Signal Patch — A contrasting area on the falls, common in some iris types.

• Space Age (SA) — Irises with unusual beard extensions (horns, spoons, flounces).

• Spathe — The leafy bract enclosing developing buds.

• Standards — The upright petals of the iris flower.

• Substance — The thickness and durability of petals.

• TB (Tall Bearded) — The most common iris class, typically over 27.5 inches tall.

• Texture — The surface quality of petals (velvety, silky, waxy).

• Throat — The inner part of the flower near the beard.

• Variegata — A color pattern with yellow standards and red/brown falls.

• Veining — Fine lines of contrasting color across petals.

• Zone (Hardiness Zone) — A geographic classification indicating climate suitability for growing.