Clear blue is rare among Gladiolus, but a few species still show variations in mostly pale tones. Please note that many species that are sometimes described as blue can be found in the Purple Gladiolus index.
Gladiolus taubertianus Schltr. is restricted to the eastern Cederberg and the northern edge of the Cold Bokkeveld in the winter rainfall zone of the Western Cape where plants grow in coarse, stony, sandstone derived ground in well drained sites in dry mountain fynbos. Flowers are pale mauve to slate blue and lightly streaked with purple and lightly sweetly scented. The lower tepals have transverse yellow markings edged with dark purple. Flowering time is August to September. The first photo from Rachel Saunders taken in the Cederberg August 2012 and the second taken in the Northern Cape September 2015.
Gladiolus vaginatus grows on limestone and clay loam slopes in fynbos and renosterveld from the Cape peninsula to Caledon and Knysna. It has blue to gray flowers with dark streaks on the lower tepals and blooms late summer to fall. Photos taken near Napier by Cameron McMaster in the Overberg.
