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GLADIOLUS communis
Commonly known as Sword lily, Whistling Jacks
A cultivated form of the light to deep magenta gladioli which is often found wild in Cornish hedgerows or older cottage gardens
Further Reading....
- Details
- Description
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Purple - Shades of purple/mauve/lilac/violet - light to deep magenta
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Height - to 1m (3ft)
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Spread - 8cm (3in)
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Bulb/Corm or rhizomatous perennial - vigorous, cormous perennial. Linear leaves 10-70cm (4-28in) long. Spikes of up to 20 funnel-shaped flowers 5cm (2in) across
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Herbaceous - Early in the year, typically January till end of March, herbaceous plants might be supplied in 9cm pots to ensure timely despatch.
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Hardy - cold winter - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open/exposed sites or central/northern locations. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F)
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Full sun
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Additional Features - Good to know - - known as Jacks or Whistling Jacks in Isles of Scilly, Cornwall and Devon. Spreads freely from cormlets.
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Pests & Diseases - slugs, thrips, aphids, grey mould(Botrytis).
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Place of origin - Spain, northwestern Africa, Italy (Sicily).
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Flower Shape - Spikes -
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Hardiness - Fully hardy -
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Seasonal Interest - Spring -
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Summer
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Soil Conditions - Fertile well drained soil -
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Gladiolus - Growing Guide
Herbaceous Plants - Video Collection
- Dividing Herbaceous Perennials - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring Planting Osteospermums - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dividing Summer Perennials - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dividing summer flowering Hemerocallis - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Summer propagation - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Self-seeding aquilegia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Supporting Plants - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead heading meconopsis - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Dead heading Delphiniums - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Feeding herbaceous peonies - Video Tip ondemand_video
to 1m (3ft)
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8cm (3in) |
Useful extras...

Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
Q4 Pelleted Fertiliser
A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
3 options from £6.00

Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi
Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
2 options from £6.00