Gladiolus palustris

[Ragged Robin]

Has anyone ever grown Gladiolus palustris or seen them growing in the wild in Europe?  I managed to buy a few from a nursery in the German part of Switzerland and would like to give them the best possible chance of survival in my location.  As it's late in the year and getting very cold I wonder if I should pot grow them inside until next year? 

[Anthony Darby]

Depends what you mean by inside Robin? I grow some Gladiolus spp. (e.g. italicus and illyricus) in my frost-free greenhouse.

[Rogan]

I've never grown a European glad before Robin - are they as easy as some of their South African cousins? They seem to be very beautiful too.

I saw this (not-) glad on the southern Cape coast in September this year, growing no more than a stone's throw from the surf - Gladiolus cunonius (syn. Anomalesia cunonia). Such a beautiful wee thing (Yikes! I'm starting to sound just like a Scotsman!)   

[Paul T]

Rogan,

Beautiful!  How close is that related to Chasmanthe?  The flower shape looks very similar, and they are very distinctive!! 

[Ragged Robin]

Anthony, the only area have to keep plants when either we are away or for a coolish environment is a frost free loo area with window.  The other alternative is a washroom with no window which is even cooler but frost free.  I just don't want to lose these bulbs as they were hard to come by and now the soil is getting cold and they have started to grow.  What do you think?

Also when planted outside should I plant it deeper than normal to allow for freezing/drying soil - drainage here,as Maggi says, is fierce and i will have to find a spot where they wouldn't dry out in the summer but still get some sun 

Rogan, a superb photo of Gladiolus cunonius  I can just imagine it growing there - thought of the Cape landscapes really lift the spirits on a gloomy day - thanks for posting this lovely gladioulus.

[Anthony Darby]

I grow communis and flannagani outside and they get plenty of frost.

[Maggi Young]

(Yikes! I'm starting to sound just like a Scotsman!)     

Rogan, congratulations, you are making excellent progress  .... I'll just add today's tip..... try to curb the use of exclamations such as "Yikes!" Instead, practice the much superior call of "Jings!"   

[Ragged Robin]

Who was the cartoon character who always said: 'jings'  I can see him in my minds eye with sprouts of hair on either side of his head and wearing overall.....but what was his name? And what exactly does jings mean?

[Anthony Darby]

Oor Wullie or one of "The Broons"?

[Ragged Robin]

Yes, it was one of those, both names ring a bell 

[Maggi Young]

'Twas Oor Wullie  who had a spikey hair cut, and dungarees, Robin and who is likely to exclaim "jings"...

Just means Yikes or Crikey, Gosh or My Goodness!

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks for clearing it in my mind Maggi, astonishing how strong the image was from my childhood in Scotland and the assosiation of the word Jings - jolly good word I think 

[Anthony Darby]

Usually accompanied by 'crivvens' and 'help ma bob'?

[Maggi Young]

Usually accompanied by 'crivvens' and 'help ma bob'?

Yes, indeedy!   And  also by the Broons and Oor Wullie:  "Braw!"

[Lvandelft]

Robin, just found this thread.
I never grew this so am not an expert, but I would plant them now in a pot and keep the pot outside on a sheltered place nearby the house. The pot may receive rain, should not kept too dry.
When temps are getting (and staying) lower than -5 C. you may put the pot inside, but a cold shed or garage will be enough. When the cold period is over you may put the pot outside again, but don’t let it become to dry!.
I don’t now how it is in your winter, but here I might put the pots several times in and outside during one winter. Our periods of cold are mostly rather short.
Gladiolus palustris is a hardy Gladiolus for rather wet places, but not in water.
I found a Website in German where you can read more about more or less hardy European Gladiolus.
I hope you can read this, otherwise you may send a PM to me with more questions.
http://www.planten.de/2001/05/16/stauden-gladiolus/