Flower. Photo from R.V. Roger

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Gladiolus European NON-CLASSIFIED AND SPECIES Corm Site Map

Gladiolus callianthus 'Murielae'

(Acidanthera 'Murielae')

Classification Code x00

From the Latin gladius ("sword"), the name used by Pliny, referring to the shape of the leaves.

Common Name

Gladiolus

Soil

Well-drained Sand or Chalk with Humus (Apply 4 inch deep mulch with mown autumn leaves and grass by each December, mix that mulch in with the top 9 inches of soil before replanting in April/May after last expected frost - further cultivation details in the Introduction Page). Can be planted in Clay using Dombrain's method to prevent rotting of the corm.

Sun Aspect

Full Sun

Soil Moisture

Moist

Plant Type

Herbaceous Corms

Height x Spread in inches

36-48 x 8-12

Foliage

Tall, pleated Green

Flower Colour - Classification Colour - in Month(s). Seed

Scented Ivory White - White (Pale) 00 - trumpets with a deep Purply-Brown centre in Late August-Early September. See explaination of when this gladiolus flowers between 91-99 days from planting.

Comment

"A very striking variety with large, hooded, white flowers, each with a very conspicuous dark purple blotch in the centre. The flowers are held on loose, long flower stalks and tend to be gently drooping. Even if you are not a great fan of Gladiolus these bear little resemblance to the normal, showy varieties and as such are well worth trying. Height 75cm" from R.V. Roger.

In temperate zones, the corms of most species and hybrids should be lifted 4-6 weeks after flowering and stored over winter in a well-ventilated, warm place where the temperature is in 50 degrees Fahrenheit range, then replanted after the deciduous trees are well into leaf in the late Spring. Set corms at 3 inches deep and 4 inches apart on a 2 inch deep bed of gravel in succession, a month apart in April, May and early June for a continuous display in the late summer and autumn. Water, liquid feed occasionally and stand back and enjoy (See introduction for watering and fertilizers).
Can be planted anytime of the year as long as frost is not likely, allowing several crops or seasons of flowers to be had by successive plantings. Flower in about 80-90 days.
Some species from Europe and high altitudes in Africa, as well as the small 'Nanus' hybrids, are much hardier (to at least -15°F/-26°C) and can be left in the ground in regions with sufficiently dry winters.
Plants are propagated either from small cormlets produced as offsets by the parent corms, or from seed; in either case, they take several years to get to flowering size.
Clumps should be dug up and divided every few years to keep them vigorous.

"The flowers of acidanthera look particularly dramatic against a dark, leafy backdrop of summer-flowering evergreens such as cistus or escallonia or the plummy-leafed Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum'. For a completely over-the-top autumn-scented corner of the garden, they could be planted near Elaeagnus ebbingei - coming into delicious flower now - with a clump of the darkest-leafed, headily perfumed Actaea (formerly Cimicifuga) simplex Atropurpurea Group. They are also happy planted in large groups at the base of a sunny wall, and their leaves provide a good vertical accent in a hot spot in a gravel garden." from Helen Yemm in The Telegraph.

Striking accent plant among summer-flowering annuals and usefull addition to perennial borders. Very good container plants, but take care when selecting container as plants can become quite top heavy when in full bloom. Cut flowers will last long time in floral arrangements; cut as soon as first buds show colour with own foliage acting as complement to flowers. Cut or remove the flower stalk just below the first leaf so the remaining 2 or 3 leaves can replenish the corm for next season’s blooms.

Available from R.V. Roger , Gee Tee Bulb Company and Wooden Shoe Bulb Farm in America