| Botanical Name |
|
| Family |
Iridaceae - The iris family. |
| Pronunciation |
GLAD-ee-oh-lus ock-roh-LEW-kus |
| Common Name(s) |
|
| Plant Group |
- Bulb / Corm / Rhizome / Tuber / Epigeal bulb Bulbs: are made up of fleshy scales as in an onion
Corm: a short, swollen, underground stem that is hard and not fleshy as in a gladiolus
Tuber: a solid, fleshy, underground, storage organ as in a potato
Rhizome: an underground, horizontal, swollen stem at the base of the plant as in an iris
Epigeal bulb: bulbs that rest above the ground with only the roots anchoring the plant to the earth as in albuca
|
| Plant Size |
- Medium
| Tree | 10m to 16m |
| Shrub | 1m to 2m |
| Perennial/ground cover | 40cm to 60cm |
| Bulb | 40cm to 60cm |
| Succulent | 40cm to 60cm |
|
| Position |
- Light or Dappled Shade Found below trees with sparse, open foliage. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
- Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
- Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.
|
| General Information |
- Deciduous Plants which completely lose their foliage for part of the year.
- Drought Tolerance: High The plant is well adapted to arid conditions; it can survive long periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
- Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
- Water Wise Plant species originating from low rainfall regions that require less water to survive and thrive than other plant species.
|
| Specific Information |
While evergreen in temperate, frost free conditions, Gladiolus ochroleucus will die down in freezing conditions, but will emerge again in late spring. It will tolerate cold weather as long as the ground does not freeze or become waterlogged. It is reportedly hardy down to Climate Zone 7.
|
| Ad Break |
|
| Flowers |
| Description |
funnel shaped, with 'petals' opening to form a triangular shape
|
| Season |
- Summer to Autumn Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
|
| Colour |
|
| Growth Rate |
- Moderate Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
|
| Plant Uses |
- Attracts bees, butterflies or other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
- Border A strip of ground, at the edge of a driveway or path in which ornamental plants or shrubs are planted.
- Cut Flowers Plants that provide flowers suitable for ornamental uses.
- Filler Either a fast growing tree or shrub used temporarily to fill in an area while the permanent plants grow to a desired size, or a plant used to fill gaps in borders or beds.
- Interplanting Arranging and planting plants in the garden that have different blooming times and habits of growth, extending the amount of time in which the area is in flower.
- Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
- Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
|
| Distribution and Habitat |
in the Eastern Cape Province and KwaZulu-Natal, in grasslands, light bush and open woodlands
|
| Planting Suggestions |
Plant the corms in any well-drained garden soil in winter. Water well during the summer growing months for best results.
|
| Lorraine's Garden Notes |
2013: For years I found only two or three of these plants in my wild garden but after a very rainy season in 2012, (following about 5 years of drought), I was delighted to see around 20 flowering specimens dotted around the grassy areas of the veld. Clearly they prefer a bit of moisture during the growing period to flower successfully.
|
| Medicinal Uses |
|
| Ad Break |
|
Discuss this plant
Share knowledge, ask a question or give an experience.