Pink Afrikaner.

At a glance

Care level

Moderate

Plant type

Cormous perennial

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

60 cm

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 9 to 11

Bloom time

Late winter to mid spring

Care

Plant your corms in a sunny spot with excellent drainage to prevent rot. Watch for yellowing leaves as that often means the soil is staying too wet. It appreciates a dry dormant period after the foliage dies back.

Watering

Keep the soil moist during the active growing season but allow it to dry out significantly during dormancy.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month while the plant is actively growing.

Pruning

Remove the flower spike after blooming and trim back the foliage only once it has turned yellow and died back naturally.

Repotting

Repot or divide the corms during the dormant season if they become too crowded.

Soil

Sandy and well-draining

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

0 to 35°C

Humidity

20 to 50%

Safety

People

The corms contain compounds that can cause irritation if eaten.

Pets

This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep the corms away from small children as they can be a choking hazard and are toxic if ingested.

Contact allergens

Handling the corms or foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen can trigger allergic reactions in some people during the flowering season.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

• Fragrant pink to mauve flowers
• Narrow sword shaped leaves
• Grows from a corm
• Tall slender flower spikes

Height

0.3 to 0.6m

Spread

0.1 to 0.2m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

pink, white, 4 to 6cm

Problems to watch for

• Thrips · These tiny insects feed on the leaves and flowers, causing streaking and stunted growth.
• Botrytis blight · A fungal infection that causes spots on leaves and flowers, especially in damp conditions.

Growing it

Propagation

cormels, seed

When to plant

autumn

Group them with other drought-tolerant bulbs that enjoy a dry summer dormancy period.

Grows well with

• Cape Daisy · They share similar moisture and light requirements in a Mediterranean garden.
• Blue Fescue · The fine texture of the grass contrasts beautifully with the sword-like leaves of the gladiolus.

Similar species

• Common Gladiolus · It has a similar growth habit but lacks the distinct clove fragrance.

Science

Family

Iridaceae

Genus

Gladiolus

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

South Africa, specifically the Western Cape region.

Conservation

It is not currently listed as endangered but should never be collected from the wild.

It thrives in sandy, well-draining soils and is adapted to the Mediterranean climate of its native range.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ornamental, cut flowers

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to dig up the corms in winter?

No. This species grows actively through winter, so in areas with frost, grow it in pots and keep them under frost-free cover. If you want to lift the corms, do it in summer after the foliage dies back and store them in a dry place.

How deep should I plant the corms?

Plant them about 10 to 15 centimeters deep in well-draining soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Gladiolus comes from the Latin word for sword, referring to the leaf shape, while caryophyllaceus refers to its clove-like scent.

Good to know

• It is commonly called the Sand Gladiolus.
• The flowers are often pale pink with darker pink markings.
• It is native to the sandy soils of the Western Cape in South Africa.
• The scent is most noticeable during the day.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs