"! The only gladiolus I have growing outside so far is the rhizomatous G. papilio which has thrived each year of the many years I have grown it. I have it in an irrigated part of the garden, of course, having finally learned that I was killing all the hardy South African plants by thinking they required dry summers. Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually) sandy soil