RHS / Joanna Kossak Gladiolus nanus
A rare, compact cormous perennial with lance-shaped ribbed green leaves and large rose-violet scented blue or purple flowers with white markings appearing in the spring
0.1-0.5 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow under glass from corms in autumn. Plant into peat-free John Innes No 2 compost and grow on in full light. Apply a weak, balanced liquid fertiliser every 3 weeks before flowering. Dry off as the leaves die down in summer. Corms can also be bought in spring for planting outside for a one off summer blooming, but after this, would need to be grown under glass and allowed to winter grow. Plant corms 15cm (6in) deep
Propagate by seed as soon as ripe in autumn in a temperature of 13°C-15°C (55°F-59°F). Remove offsets when the corms are dormant in autumn. Pot into equal parts peat-free, loam-based compost and sharp sand
No pruning required
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
Generally disease-free