There are about 163 species of Gladiolus (with new ones being discovered) in the area south of the Tropic of Capricorn and including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique. Some are found in winter rainfall areas and some in summer rainfall areas. For more information see Goldblatt and Manning, 1998. Southern African species from Pe-R are pictured on this page.
Gladiolus index - Southern African gladiolus A-B - Southern African gladiolus Ca - Southern African gladiolus Ce-E -- Southern African gladiolus F-H - Southern African gladiolus I-Me - Southern African gladiolus Mi-Pa - Southern African gladiolus S-T - Southern African gladiolus U-Z - Gladiolus Hybrids - Miscellaneous gladiolus
Gladiolus permeabilis grows on shale slopes in renosterveld from Caledon east through southern Africa and to Zimbabwe. In the Cape province it blooms late winter into spring. It has mauve to dull purple or cream flowers with yellowish makings and is usually intensely fragrant. The first photo was taken by Cameron McMaster in the Overberg and the second by Bob Rutemoeller in the Bontebok National Park
Gladiolus permeabilis ssp. edulis , syn. Gladiolus edulis is widespread across the summer-rainfall zone and is common in the drier areas. This subspecies has whitish to cream, sometimes grey or mauve flowers. All of the tepals except for the dorsal have a grey to purple or maroon midline sometimes surrounded by a yellow streak. The lower lateral tepals are yellow in the upper half. Tepals have an elongated and tapering tip or tail-like twisted and undulate appendages. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster in three locations in the Eastern Cape, January and February 2008.
Gladiolus phoenix is a rare local endemic restricted to moist backs and ravines in the Bain’s Kloof Mountains. This plant appears to need fire to stimulate bloom. Flowers are pink with a white spear shaped mark outlined in deep pink on the lower three tepals. Photo by Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus pillansii see Gladiolus martleyi
Gladiolus primulinus see Gladiolus dalenii
Gladiolus priorii (syn. Homoglossum priorii) is a fall blooming species found on sandstone and granite slopes in the southwest Cape. It is relatively easy to grow in captivity, and has one to four tubular red flowers with yellow throats. They droop slightly, making it hard to see the centers unless you crouch down. This one is growing in the ground in northern California and has bloomed the last two years in November. The first photo below was taken by Bob Rutemoeller and the second in the summer hemisphere by Bill Dijk. The third was taken by Cameron McMaster, and the fourth by Michael Mace. The last photo was taken by Rachel Saunders June 2011 of this species blooming on Table Mountain in the southwestern Cape in an area that had previously burned.
Gladiolus pritzelii is found on rocky sandstone slopes in the northwest Cape. It has bell-like yellow fowers with red to brown transverse markings on the lower tepals. The first photo was taken by Cameron McMaster on Ouberg Road in the Roggeveld , the second by Rod Saunders from Silverhill Seeds, and the third from Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus psittacinus see Gladiolus dalenii
Gladiolus pubigerus syn. Gladiolus pugioniformis is widespread in eastern southern Africa. It has pale lemon yellow flowers tinged with green and blooms in spring. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster.
Gladiolus pulcherrimus 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 grow in the northwest Cape on sandstone slopes. This one, grown by Gordon Summerfield in South Africa, was blooming September 2003. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus punctulatus see Gladiolus hirsutus
Gladiolus quadrangularis (syn. Homoglossum quadrangulare) is found on rocky sandstone slopes in the Northwest Cape. It has 4 to 10 red to orange flowers and blooms late winter into spring. The color of my seed grown plants is a little unusual so perhaps they are hybrids. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner of plants that bloomed in Northern California March 2004 and 2007
Gladiolus quadrangulus (syn. Ixia linearis, G. linearis, G. biflorus) is found in the southwestern Cape in sandy soil in seasonally wet, poorly drained and sometimes brackish habitat. Goldblatt & Manning report that it has been eliminated from most of its original range, and that "its long-term survival in the wild is unlikely." Fortunately, it is relatively easy to grow in cultivation, where it can be treated like a typical winter-growing Glad. It has pale pink, mauve or white flowers. The tepals have darker veins. It blooms late winter into spring. The shape of the flowers is reminiscent of an Ixia, and unlike most Gladiolus it does not produce nectar. Goldblatt & Manning speculate that it is adapted to pollination by pollen-eating insects. First photo by Alan Horstmann. Second photo by Michael Mace of a plant whose name tag was lost, but which is almost certainly G. quadrangulus.
Gladiolus recurvus Photos taken by Cameron McMaster in the Overberg. Gladiolus recurvus occurs in shale derived soils from Ceres to Bredasdorp and flowers from June to October depending on the elevation. Flowers are pale gray to cream, yellowish or pinkish with purple lines and dots on the lower tepals and sometimes spotted or lined in the midline on the upper tepals as well. Flowers are fragrant.
Gladiolus rehmannii is a summer rainfall species that grows in sandy soils, often in rocky ground in light woodland in the northern part of South Africa to eastern Botswana. Growing from 30 to 50 cm, it has white to pale lilac flowers with yellow nectar guides and is unscented. It blooms from mid January to March. Photo from Rod Saunders.
Gladiolus robustus see Gladiolus geardii
Gladiolus rogersii has blue to purple flowers with yellow or white transverse markings on the lower tepals. It is found on sandstone and limestone slopes in winter and year round rainfall areas and blooms in spring. The first photo by Mary Sue Ittner was taken of a plant growing on a slope east of Swellendam. Most of the flowers had been eaten by an insect. Photos 2-3 taken by Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus rudis grows on sandstone slopes in fynbos in the southwestern Cape and blooms in spring. It has 2 to 5 cream to pale pink flowers on a spike. The lower tepals have spear-shaped markings and the perianth tube is funnel shaped. The first three photos taken by Cameron McMaster near Caledon and Fairfield in the Overberg and the last taken by Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus index - Southern African gladiolus A-B - Southern African gladiolus Ca - Southern African gladiolus Ce-E - Southern African gladiolus F-H - Southern African gladiolus I-Me - Southern African gladiolus Mi-Pa - Southern African gladiolus S-T - Southern African gladiolus U-Z - Gladiolus Hybrids - Miscellaneous gladiolus