This feature is under organizing and development.

Black Irises, Almost

Black Irises, Almost are very popular and make stunning garden plants. There is no true black iris, they tend to be either blue-black, purple-black, or red-black. Below you will find a gallery of irises that lean heavily towards being black as selfs or in the standards or falls. Although some of the iris in this gallery may not be thought of as black they are in this gallery because they are identified in various ways in their registration or catalog descriptions with the color black. They are presented in chronological order from most recent introductions to older introductions and list the highest AIS Award they may have won. Clicking on a photo or the data will take you to the cultivar page for that iris where you will find other information about that iris.

If you think there is another almost black iris that should be added to this collection contact the AIS Encyclopedia Manager at aisencyclopedia@irises.org.

When this project was started in April of 2024 it was not imagined how many iris would be identified in some way as having black traits. This has become a significant project. Additionally the recent iris in the gallery would not have been eliglible for AIS Awards yet, and not all of the AIS Awards have been fully recorded in the early years cultivar pages so some of the much older iris may have won awards not noted here yet.

Gallery of Black Irises, Almost

2023 ‘Cover Of Night’, TB
Paul Black
No Awards

2023, ‘Karakul’, TB
Keith Keppel
No Awards

2023 ‘Lady Raven’, TB
Robin Shadlow
No Awards

2022, ‘Gotham’, TB
Schreiner
No Awards

2020, ‘Black Friday’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 2022

2019, ‘Black Hole’, TB
Paul Black
Honorable Mention 2021

2019, ‘Evil Doctor’, TB
Don Murphy
No Awards

2018, ‘Senor Jinx’, TB
Schreiner
Award Of Merit 2023

2017, ‘Black Comedy’, IB
Paul Black
Sass Medal 2023

2017, ‘Black Mirror’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 2019

2016, ‘Black Lipstick’, TB
Keith Keppel
Wister Medal 2023

R. 2015, ‘Black Arts’, TB
J. Griffin Crump
No Awards

2015, ‘Black Cat’, TB
Donald Spoon
No Awards

2014, ‘Blackata’, TB
Bruce Filardi
Honorable Mention 2018

2014, ‘Blackwater’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 2016

2013, ‘Black Olive’, MDB
Paul Black
Caparne-Weldh Medal 2023

2012, ‘Wicked Good’, TB
Paul Black
Award of Merit 2016

2011, ‘Black Bull’, BB
Denise Stewart
No Awards

2010, ‘Black Is Black’, TB
Schreiner
Wister Medal 2017

2009, ‘Bad Intentions’, SDB
Paul Black
Honorable Mention 2011

2009, ‘Black Lightning’, SDB
Chuck Chapman
Award of Merit 2016

2009, ‘Dracula's Kiss’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 2013

2009, ‘Here Comes The Night’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 2011

2008, ‘Raven Girl’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 2014

2008, ‘Stealth Fighter’, TB
J. Griffin Crump
No Awards

2007, ‘Blackmail’, TB
John Bruce
No Awards

2006, ‘Wish Upon A Star’, SDB
Paul Black
Cook Douglas Medal 2013

2005, ‘All Night Long’, TB
Roger Duncan
Award of Merit 2009

2005, ‘Lord Of The Night’, TB
George Sutton
Honorable Mention 2009

2003,'Ozark Rebounder’, TB
Barbara Nicodemus
Award of Merit 2009

2002, ‘Obsidian’, TB
Marky Smith
Award of Merit 2006

2001, ‘Hollywood Nights’, TB
Roger Duncan
Wister Medal 2008

2001, ‘Sambuca’, TB
Larry Johnson
Honorable Mention 2004

2000, ‘Black Suited’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 2004

2000, ‘Ghost Train’, TB
Sterling Innerst
Honorable Mention 2003

2000, ‘Starring’, TB
Joseph Ghio
Wister Medal 2007

2000, ‘Sweet Baby’, SDB
Keith Keppel
Honorable Mention 2002

1999, ‘Black Butte’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 2001

1999, ‘Black Night’, IB
A. Theodore Mueller
No Awards

1998, ‘Dark Passion’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 2001

1998, ‘Holy COw’, TB
Tom Burseen
No Awards

1998, ‘Men In Black’, TB
Larry Lauer
Honorable Mention 2000

1998, ‘Midnight Oil’, TB
Keith Keppel
Award of Merit 2002

1996, ‘Local Color’, TB
Keith Keppel
Wister Medal 2002

1996, ‘Old Black Magic’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 2000

1996, ‘Thunder Spirit’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1998

1995, ‘Around Midnight’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 2000

1994, ‘Paint It Black’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 2000

1993, ‘Black Tie Affair’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 1997

1993, ‘Coalignition’, TB
Tom burseen
Honorable Mention 1997

1992, ‘Blacky’, TB
Manfred Beer
No Awards

1992, ‘Hello Darkness’, TB
Schreiner
Dykes Medal 1999

1991, ‘Midnight Dancer’, TB
Schreiner
No Awards

1989, ‘Before The Storm’, TB
Sterling Innerst
Dykes Medal 1996

1989, ‘Magician's Apprentice’, TB
William Maryott
Honorable Mention 1994

1988, ‘Black Fantasy’, TB
Duane Meek
No Awards

1987, ‘Dark Vader’, SDB
Lynda Miller
Cook Douglas Medal 1993

1986, ‘Back In Black’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1988

1986, ‘Blackout’, TB
Walter Luihn
Honorable Mention 1988

1986, ‘Satin Satan’, TB
John Weiler
Honorable Mention 1988

1986, ‘Witches' Sabbath’, TB
William Maryott
Honorable Mention 1988

1985, ‘Darkside’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 1991

1985, ‘Houdini’, TB
William Maryott
Honorable Mention 1987

1985, ‘Watch It’, TB
John Weiler
No Awards

R. 1983, ‘Black Soul’, TB
John Durrance
No Awards

1983, ‘Black Tornado’, TB
Gordon Plough
No Awards

1982, ‘Black Dragon’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1984

1982, ‘Harlem Hussy’, TB
Duane Meek
Honorable Mention 1984

1981, ‘Black Jazz’, TB
Eva Heimann
No Awards

1981, ‘Raven's Roost’, TB
Gordon Plough
No Awards

1980, ‘Black Ware’, TB
Loleta Powell
No Awards

1978, ‘Cherry Smoke’, TB
Duane Meek
Award of Merit 1982

1978, ‘Swazi Princess’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 1984

1977, ‘Night Raider’, TB
Charles Burrell
No Awards

1977, ‘Sunday Punch’, TB
Fred Crandall
No Awards

1977, ‘Superstition’, TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 1981

1976, ‘Black Veil’, SDB
Floyd Dyer
No Awards

1976, ‘By Night’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1977

1976, ‘Tar Barrel’, TB
Loleta Powell
No Awards

1975, ‘Storm Flury’, TB
Schreiner
No Awards

1974, ‘Black Market’, TB
Gordon Plough
Honorable Mention 1976

1973, ‘Midnight Special’, TB
Neva Sexton
Honorable Mention 1977

1972, ‘Demon’, SDB
Ben Hager
Award of Merit 1976

1971, ‘Basic Black’, TB
Ben HAger
Honorable Mention 1972

R. 1970, ‘Black Boots’, TB
Tim Craig
Honorable Mention 1971

1970, ‘Night Owl’, TB
Schreiner/br>Award of Merit 1973

1969, ‘Black Bart’, TB
Hazel Schmelzer
No Awards

1969, ‘Black Bit’, SDB
Alta Brown
No Awards

1969, ‘Black Pansy’, TB
Caroline DeForest
Honorable Mention 1970

1969, ‘Charcoal’, TB
Gordon Plough
Honorable Mention 1970

1968, ‘Study In Black’, TB
Gordon Plough
Award of Merit 1973

1967, ‘Nightside’, TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1968

19R. 1966, ‘Black Canyon’, TB
Elbert W. Smith
No Awards

1966, 'Congo Queen, TB
Edward Christensen
Honorable Mention 1967

1966, 'Sable Robe', TB
Paul Cook
Honorable Mention 1967

1965, 'Leda Knight', TB
George Hinkle
Honorable Mention 1966

1965, 'Night Song', TB
Walter Luihn
Honorable Mention 1966

1965, 'Swahili', TB
Gordon Plough
Award of Merit 1969

1965, 'Tuxedo', TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1969

1963, 'After Dark', TB
Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1964

1963, 'Black Hope', TB
Lloyd Austin
No Awards

1963, 'Black Monday', TB
Charles Voris
No Awards

1963, 'Black Rose', TB
Wilma Vallette
No Awards

1963, 'Congo Song', TB
Edward Christensen
Honorable Mention 1964

1963, 'Ecstatic Night', TB
Paul Cook
No Awards

R. 1962, 'Black Jade', TB
Orville Fay
No Awards

1962, 'Dark Fury', TB
Walter Luihn
Award of Merit 1965

1962, 'Jet Black', TB
Roy Brizendine
No Awards

1962, 'Shine Boy', SDB
Mildred Brizendine
Award of Merit 1967

1961, 'Licorice Stick', TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 1964

1960, 'Black Swan', TB
Orville Fay
Award of Merit 1962

1960, 'Black Top', MDB
Walter Welch
Honorable Mention 1961

1960, 'Midnight Waltz', TB
Laura Burbridge
Honorable Mention 1961

1959, 'Basin Street', TB
Larry Gaulter
No Awards

1959, 'Blackness', TB
Charles H. Lewis
Honorable Mention 1960

1959, 'Edenite', TB
Gordon Plough
Honorable Mention 1959

1958, 'Black Ink', TB
James Kelway
No Awards

1958, 'Black Onyx', TB
Robert Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1960

1956, 'Total Eclipse', TB
Orville Fay
Honorable Mention 1956

1955, 'Black Baby', MDB
Hans Peter Sass
Caparne Award 1962

1955, 'Deep Black', TB
Paul Cook
Award of Merit 1957

1954, 'Black Taffeta', TB
Gertrude Songer
Award of Merit 1957

1954, 'Dark Boatman', TB
Paul Cook
Award of Merit 1956

1953, 'Black Castle', TB
Schreiner
No Awards

R. 1953, 'Black Midnight', TB
Schreiner
No Awards

1953, 'Black Mischief', TB
Bernard Schreiner
No Awards

1953, 'Storm Warning', TB
Bernard Schreiner
Honorable Mention 1954

1952, 'Sable Night', TB
Paul Cook
Dykes Medal 1955

1951, 'Black Belle', TB
Jean Stevens
No Awards

1951, 'Black Hills', TB
Orville Fay
Award of Merit 1954

R. 1951, 'Black Tower', TB
Elizabeth Anderson
No Awards

R. 1949, 'After Midnight', TB
Tell Muhlestein
No Awards

R. 1948, 'Black Knight', TB
J. W. Palmer
No Awards

1948, 'Velvet Dusk', TB
Robert Schreiner
No Awards

1947, 'Ebony Queen', TB
Sass Brothers
Honorable Mention 1947

1945, 'Black Forest', TB
Schreiner
Award of Merit 1948

1942, 'Indiana Night', TB
Paul Cook
Award of Merit 1944

1940, 'Storm King', TB
Colonel Jesse Nicholls
Honorable Mention 1941

1939, 'Deep Velvet', TB
Carl Salbach
Award of Merit 1942

1938, 'Ethiop Queen', TB
Robert Schreiner
No Awards

1938, 'Sable', TB
Paul Cook
Award of Merit 1940

1937, 'Mata Hari', TB
Colonel Jesse Nicholls
No Awards

1936, 'Dymia', TB
Elmer Curtis Shuber
No Awards

R. 1935, 'Black Magic', IB
Robert Wayman
No Awards

1934, 'The Black Douglas', TB
Jacob Sass
Honorable Mention 1936

1930, 'Black Wings', TB
James Kirkland
Award of Merit 1933

1898, 'Iris nigricans', SPEC
Kreslage & Sons
No Awards

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