THE IRIS FAMILY 2020

Iris reticulata

 

Crocus malyi

 

Hesperantha coccinea

 

I had a similar Iris reticulata in bloom a few weeks ago but I kept forgetting to bring my camera back from London

 

Crocus sieberi "Tricolour"

 

Gladiolus uysiae

Close up of flower


Gladiolus splendens

Close up of flower

 

@NigelJ That uysiae is really lovely! I think I have some bulbils of that from AGS And the splendens looks almost like a disa, the colour is so luminous.

 

@CarolineL It's the first time uysiae has flowered for me. My first thought was orchid like. I see what you mean about Disa and G splendens.

 

@CarolineL I should say that having smelt it today G usyiae is worth growing just for the scent.

 

@NigelJ - that makes it even better - unfortunately it'll be a few years before I see (or smell) the flowers! Today (at my volunteering job at National Botanic Garden Wales) I found a load of rice grain bulbils of various gladioli stored in perlite. It's a long shot as they've been there a while, but I've potted them up. I did 11 species - and have another 12 to do next week! They were:floribundus, sericevillosus, caryophyllaceus, acuminatus, lewisiae, inandensis, serpenticola, scullyi, miniatus, orchidiflorus and an unknown sp. I'm hoping that they will have started doing something by my work day next week (optimist!)

 

@CarolineL That sounds exciting. The only one of those I grow is miniatus which I hope will flower in a month or so.
G miniatus May 2019

Good luck with your bulbils.

 

I've got a couple of little miniatus at home, bought from Desirable Plants. They have stayed green over winter but not looking very vigorous yet - waiting for warmth I suspect. Yours is beautiful! From a pea sized bulbil, how fast would you reckon to get flower please @NigelJ ?

 

@CarolineL I would think two years, but with a good growing season you may get a flower next year. I have only recently started growing gladioli species so I'm still feeling my way and trying not to have too many fatalities..