
AWARDS
The Australian Dykes Medal
and ISA Medal
About the Dykes Medal
In 1987, the Iris Societies of Australia and New Zealand, in consultation with the British Iris Society instituted an Australasian Dykes Medal, which in 1995, was replaced by separate Dykes Medals for Australia and New Zealand. The competition for the Australian Dykes Medal involves eight dedicated test gardens across the country, with each eligible cultivar entered into all gardens simultaneously. This enables new varieties’ performance in a range of different growing conditions to be assessed by a number of experienced iris judges. Cultivars in the Dykes Medal test gardens are grown under their registered name (registration is a condition of entry). The cultivar receiving the highest average score in the test gardens is awarded the Australian Dykes Medal.
Since the Australian Dykes Medal gardens feature both bearded and beardless irises, the Iris Society of Australia (ISA) Medal is awarded annually for the top-scoring iris of a different type to that which has received the Dykes Medal, e.g. if the Dykes Medal winner is a bearded cultivar, then the highest-scoring beardless cultivar receives the ISA Medal, and vice versa. The Australian Dykes Medal is named after William Rickatson Dykes who was the founder of the British Iris Society. Dykes Medals are also awarded annually in the United Kingdom, North America and New Zealand.
Winner of 2022 Australian Dykes Medal
'Rocky Rogue'
(Graeme Grosvenor, 2011)
Seedling# A130-4. TB, 36 (91 cm), Late midseason bloom. Standards and falls maroon red; beards tangerine red. 'Rogue' X 'Rustle Of Spring'. Rainbow Ridge 2013/14.
Congratulations to Graeme Grosvenor. Graeme is building up quite a collection of Dykes Medals, this being the 23rd Australian Dykes Medal awarded to his iris hybrids over the past 31 years.

Pictured above and in header - Rocky Rogue, photos by John Taylor
2021 Australian Dykes Medal Winner
'Market Order' (John Charles Taylor, R. 2017). Seedling#14LD39-1. TB, 34.5" (88 cm), Midseason bloom. Standards and style arms peach-pink; falls pink, lighter in center; beards tangerine; slight fragrance. 'Bowled Over X 'Treasured'


Pictured above - Market Order, photos by John Taylor