There are about 163 species (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-Sc 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 Se-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 Park.
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 priorii (syn. Homoglossum priorii) is a fall blooming species found on sandstone and granite slopes in the southwest Cape. It has one to four red flowers. 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.
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, and the third from Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus pubigerus 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 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 is found in the southwestern Cape in sandy soil in seasonally wet, poorly drained and sometimes brackish habitat. It has pale pink, mauve or white flowers. The tepals have darker veins. It blooms late winter into spring. Photo by Alan Horstmann.
Gladiolus recurvus Photos taken by Cameron McMaster, the first near at Bredasdorp and the second near Napier, both localities in the Overberg. Gladiolus recurvus ocurrs in shale derived soils from Ceres to Bredasdorp and flowers in early August.
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. This one was seen growing on a slope east of Swellendam. Most of the flowers had been eaten by an insect. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner and 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 saccatus Formerly known as Anomalesia saccata or Antholyza saccata this plant extends from the western Cape of South Africa into Namibia. It is found in both summer and winter rainfall areas. It has bright red flowers and is pollinated by birds. This one was growing alongside the road in Namaqualand. Photo August 2001 by Mary Sue Ittner
Gladiolus scullyi is found on silty clay and granite slopes in the northern winter rainfall areas (Namaqualand and western Karoo), It is very similar to Gladiolus venustus but with dull yellow to light brown flowers with darker yellow on the lower tepals and darker brown to purplish highlights. It is fragrant and windowed in profiled. Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller September 2006 near Nieuwoudtville and in Namaqualand. The last picture was taken by Bob Werra.
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 Se-T -- Southern African Gladiolus U-Z -- Gladiolus Hybrids -- Miscellaneous Gladiolus
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