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| Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. |
| Family: Iridaceae (Irises) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Summer/Fall |
| Synonyms: [Gladiolus primulinus, G. natalensis] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F |
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Gladiolus dalenii - A beautiful vigorously-growing bulb-like (corm) plant that has strap-shaped foliage to 2 feet tall. In early fall, the bell-shaped flaring-petaled orange flowers with yellow throats sit atop multiple 3 foot long inflorescences. Though often listed as spring blooming our form consistently seems to bloom its 'candy corn' colored blooms for Halloween - in late October. Plant in full sun in a relatively well-drained soil. This is a summer growing Gladiolus that requires some summer irrigation. Hardy to 10- 15 degrees F. The species is common and widespread in Southern Africa where it can be found in the summer-rainfall regions of the Eastern Cape from East London to southern KwaZulu-Natal and from the coast to as far inland as Lesotho. It can also be found growing further to the north in tropical Africa. There are many forms which may account for some listing this as a spring flowering bulb. Among the common names are Parrot Gladiola, African Gladiolus, Maid-of-the-Mist and Sword Lily. The name Gladiolus is a Latin word meaning "a small sword" in reference to its narrow sword-shaped leaves. The specific epithet was given to this plant by Petrus Cornelius (Pierre Corneille) Van Geel in 1828 to honor the Dutch botanist Cornelius Dalen, who was the Director, Rotterdam Botanic Gardens. We were first given this plant by the incredible plantsman Fred Meyer in the early 1980's and have listed in our annual catalogs since 1985.
This information about Gladiolus dalenii displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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