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Gladiolus cruentus - Moore.

Common Name
Family Iridaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. Africa - Drakensburg Mountains.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Gladiolus cruentus


Gladiolus cruentus

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Gladiolus cruentus is a CORM growing to 0.9 m (3ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses:

Flowers - raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a boiled vegetable[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a sunny sheltered position in a light sandy neutral to slightly acid soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7[1, 200]. Requires a stony gritty loam. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. This species is one of the parents of the cultivated garden gladiolas[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse at 15°c[200]. It usually germinates freely[1]. The seed can also be sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a warm greenhouse[200]. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be grown on in the pot without disturbance for their first year, giving them an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up the small bulbs when they are dormant in the autumn, placing about 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another year or two in the greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring. Division. Dig up the corms in October, dry them in well ventilated conditions at about 20°c and then store them in a cool but frost-free place over the winter, planting them out about 10cm deep in April[1, 200]. Cormlets harvested when digging up the corms in the autumn can be stored in a similar manner to the corms[200]. Larger cormlets can be planted out in spring, smaller ones may be best grown on for a year in the greenhouse.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AFRICA: South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal (c.))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Gladiolus daleniiCornflagCorm1.5 0-0  LMNM10 
Gladiolus permeabilis edulis Corm0.4 8-11  LMSNM20 
Gladiolus quartinianus Corm1.2 8-11  LMSNM20 
Gladiolus spicatus Bulb0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Gladiolus unguiculatus Bulb0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Gladiolus zambesiacus Bulb0.0 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Moore.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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