Gladiolus quartinianus
Family: Iridaceae
What it is like
Gladiolus quartinianus is a CORM growing to 1.2 m (4ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in flower in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Not known
Africa.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Corm - roasted.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Prefers a sunny sheltered position in a light sandy neutral to slightly acid soil. Requires a stony gritty loam. A parent of some garden hybrids. Cultivated for its (edible) bulb in Africa. It is said to inhibit the growth of legumes.
Propagating it: Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse at 15°c. It usually germinates freely. The seed can also be sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a warm greenhouse. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be grown on in the pot without disturbance for their first year, giving them an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up the small bulbs when they are dormant in the autumn, placing about 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another year or two in the greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring. Division. Dig up the corms in October, dry them in well ventilated conditions at about 20°c and then store them in a cool but frost-free place over the winter, planting them out about 10cm deep in April. Cormlets harvested when digging up the corms in the autumn can be stored in a similar manner to the corms. Larger cormlets can be planted out in spring, smaller ones may be best grown on for a year in the greenhouse.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Corm
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist