Gladiolus tristis (Seeds)

A beautiful South African species that flowers in April/May in the UK, with wonderful pale straw coloured flowers with pretty green highlights and a good perfume which is noticeable in the evenings. They will need a sheltered situation in cold gardens or cold districts but if they can be grown in a favoured spot they will set seed and increase. They are in leaf through much of the winter, but they will cope with temperatures down to -3ºc.

Planting Instructions

Sow the seed tray of multipurpose compost in the early autumn and leave out of doors until November when it can be moved into a cold greenhouse or similar protected site. Take out again in March and stand in part shade. When large enough to handle the small bulbs, plant several into a larger pot of soil based compost. They should begin to flower in their third year.

Plant Details

Flowers April / May
Height 36" (90 cm)