New Introductions:

Introductions are when irises are first offered for sale to the general public. Most Irises are registered first with the world's cultivar registration authority to ensure that the cultivar name has not been used by another Iris. Registration often occurs in the same year as introduction. But it is also common to register the iris a year before so that it can be put into catalogs that are not yet produced. Rarely introductions can be delayed for a year or more. This may be due to the need to build up stock of a particularly desirous variety.

Image galleries of each years registrations are being constructed. The registration image galleries for current and prior year would show 95% of the current years introductions. We are working backwards in time to create these image galleries and progress can be seen on the page listing galleries of registrations by year.

How do I find the newest introductions?

Check out the previous year's registrations. Also during the current year registrations are continually added to the current year's registration gallery. Those registered early in the year may well be current introductions but those added late in the year usually will appear in next year's catalogs. If one clicks on an image in the registration image gallery one sees the details of the iris and if introduced the last item in the descriptive paragraph gives the nursery introducing it, if introduced. Work is beginning on Galleries of Introductions by Year

How does one record introduction?

Proof of introduction is established by sending a copy of a catalog or price list that is dated and has a price for an iris to the AIS Registrar. PDFs are accepted. to see further details on AIS Website under Registration/Introduction

Why introduce?

Once an iris's introduction is recorded by the registrar it enters the AIS Awards system. Introduced Irises may then be placed on the Judge's Ballet.

Where can I see new Irises?

When Irises are first created and selected in the hybridizer's garden they are given seedling numbers. Savy hybridizers often send new seedlings to National Conventions, Regional Conventions and Trial gardens. Often seedlings are shown at local Iris Shows where they may win an exhibition certificate. Feedback from these venues weighs on the Hybridizer's decision on whether to register and introduce the iris.

Historic Irises "Not Introduced"

Many Historic Irises were registered but never introduced. Sometimes they actually were offered for sale somewhere but the registrar never received the proof of introduction. But Some just never made it into commerce. These probably are not still extant since they were never distributed. If the cultivar is followed by (Not Introduced) this designates it probably was never introduced. For example in 1981 318 Tall bearded Irises were registered, but 26 of these were never introduced.