Gladiolus

Over 250 species of Gladiolus mainly grow on mainland Africa, most of which are not reliably hardy in the UK. At Beth's we grow a small range which enjoy a sunny position, on a well-drained soil. They provide a strong, colourful vertical, amongst rounded shrubs and perennials. Some will flower earlier during spring, G. tristis, others later summer, G. papilio. In the colder areas of the UK, or if you have soils which remain waterlogged over winter, you may need to mulch the soil, or lift the bulbs.