Gladiolus leptosiphon
Category photo (no photo of its own for this entry)
Native to South Africa, between Ladismith (Little Karoo) and Uitenhage (Eastern Cape), Gladiolus leptosiphon grows on stony hills and slopes of renosterveld and arid fynbos, in a winter-rainfall climate. Its corm produces narrow, whip-like leaves and a stem 45 to 60 cm tall. In the southern spring (October-November) it bears six to nine creamy white flowers, streaked dark purple-red on the lower tepals with long slender tubes; the upper tepals stand erect. Pollinated by a long-proboscid fly, uncommon and threatened by habitat loss, it requires well-drained soil, full sun and dry summer dormancy.
- Flowering height :0-15 cm
Growing cycle
No calendar data for this entry.