“Singular and beautiful colour”
“Irises have been compared to Orchids, and those who delight in singular and beautiful colour, and to whom greenhouses and hot-houses are denied, may find a substitute for Orchids in irises”
By William Robinson, from “The English Flower Garden,” 1892
Latest from our Noticeboard
New Life Members
The Society has much pleasure in giving life memberships to Alison Simpson and Lyn Stockley for their outstanding service to the New Zealand Iris Society.
Iris Garden Open Days 2022
South Canterbury Iris Group will be holding open days at the Makikihi Iris garden, behind the Makikihi Country Crafts shop. The gardens will be open 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm...
Book Release – Why Irises?
It’s here, the eagerly awaited and definitive book on irises; many Iris lovers have waited a long time for Gwenda Harris to put pen to paper and give the world the...
Our Species
We all begin with a love affair and for most it is with the Tall Bearded Iris which comes in all hues except a true red and green, however the search to perfect these colours in the Iris continues today as it has done for the past 80 odd years.
Below you can see examples of New Zealand Irises.
Arils and Aril Bred Irises
The common characteristic of these very different species from which the term “aril” arises is a white appendage on one end of the seed. This appendage or aril varies in size in each species.
Tall Bearded Irises
It is a large genus containing, among several sub-genera, bearded or pogon iris, the most popular and most frequently grown iris. Thousands of named varieties have been developed over the last 100 years or so, in a wide range of colours and sizes.
Beardless Iris
There is a growing interest in the non bearded irises. Including these in your garden will extend the flowering season over almost the whole year.
Iris Society Benefits
Seed Pool
The Seed Pool is a members only benefit
Society Membership
Join the New Zealand Iris Society for information, communication, socialising, a quality bulletin, excellent book and slide libraries, seed pool, robins, seminars and garden visits and much more …
Society Awards
The New Zealand Dykes Medal can be awarded every second year by the British Iris Society on the recommendation of the New Zealand Iris Society. To view previous recipients please follow the link.
Convention 2022
Iris By Design
The National Convention was held at Trailways Hotel Nelson Friday 11th to Monday 14th November 2022
This event has been…. some photos are now on the Convention page