Gladiolus BB sp 3

This plant, the third unidentified Gladiolus (Iridaceae) accession held at this nursery, belongs to a genus of around 260 species, the great majority native to South Africa, where they occupy habitats ranging from fynbos to grassland. The round corm, with fibrous tunics, produces fan-arranged sword-shaped leaves and a stem bearing a one-sided spike of funnel-shaped, six-tepalled flowers, whose flowering time and colour depend on the species of origin. Labelled 'sp 3', this accession has not yet been precisely identified. It requires well-drained soil, a sunny position and dry dormancy matching its natural resting season.