Butterfly gladiolus will not bloom for a while. Abyssinian gladiolus may not bloom at all. Hybrid gladiolus, though, are already finishing. I got these few pictures while I can, and will likely get pictures of butterfly gladiolus as they bloom later. I am glad to do so. They are my favorite gladiolus. They are more like wildflowers than overly bred hybrids. Also, they are very reliably perennial. I hope that the Abyssinian gladiolus perform also. They are also supposedly reliably perennial, but are not in a very good situation here. I should relocate them, perhaps closer to where the butterfly gladiolus are so happy. The hybrids are earning my appreciation too. I was not aware that they had potential to be perennial.

1. Gladiolus papilio, butterfly gladiolus is my favorite, because it is from Tangly Cottage Gardening, is approved by Skooter, is reliably perennial, and it blooms like a wildflower.

2. Its foliage is rather grassy, which is more compatible with other wildflowers than wide leaves of more garish hybrid gladiolus. The corms multiply and migrate quite efficiently.

3. Gladiolus murielae, Abyssinian gladiolus is my second favorite, even while it is not so much to see. It is a gift from a neighbor. It should bloom for autumn, but I have doubts.

4. Hybrid gladiolus are the most colorful, but are not reliably perennial. However, these and two others have been blooming well here for several years, and actually multiplying.

5. This orange with yellow hybrid gladiolus was one of the first two to bloom again after a few years of producing only foliage. The yellow gladiolus joined them a few years later.

6. This purple hybrid gladiolus is the other of the first pair to resume bloom, although it does not multiply as much as the yellow gladiolus that resumed bloom a few years later.

This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/

9 thoughts on “Six on Saturday: Glad”

      2. Of course, because you can appreciate the color. If I grew hybrid gladiolus, I would want them all to be white, which would make me happy, but would also be boring.

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  2. Beautiful glads this week, Tony, and I agree with you about the species having more attraction. I also like the Abyssinians and have used some of the other species from time to time. It has been so dry here that I am not sure which may bloom this year- A friend gave me a bag of hybrid glads years ago, which I planted and enjoyed for a year or two. But they aren’t survivors in my wild garden and end up looking a little out of place. Such an interesting six this week! Thank you!

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    1. When I grew hybrid gladiolus years ago, they were only a few varieties, which did not last more than a few years. The random mixes are more likely to include varieties that are more reliably perennial, and perhaps, some varieties are more reliably perennial in particular situations than others. When I was in school, I noticed that a particular garish pink hybrid gladiolus survived where such mixed had planted in some of the coastal gardens. I was told that it actually has a variety name, but I can not remember what it is.

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    1. The hybrids are the popular sorts because they are so garish. I am getting to like them, especially since they have been perennial. I did not dislike them for their garishness, but because of their unreliability after their first season.

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