Gladiolus pulcherrimus

Quick Characteristics:

Gladiolus pulcherrimus (G.J.Lewis) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning has very striking orange to salmon flowers that are similar to Gladiolus alatus but is distinguished by broad sword shaped leaves that lack prominent veins. It grows in the northwest Cape on sandstone slopes. Height range: 20-60 cm high. The first photo from Bob Rutemoeller is of a plant grown by Gordon Summerfield in South Africa, which was blooming September 2003. The next two photos by Alan Horstmann, and Rod Saunders.