Gladiolus carinatus

That's lovely ! :o)

Wow, that's a beauty!

That is a lovely colour blue

Thanks! I now have 6 different types of glads and 12 of Moraea, all winter-growing types and most are from seed.

Wow beautiful pattern!!

I think the species Glads are much better than those hybrid types, and since they are shorter, they don't need staking. They don't need as much care since they go dormant in the summer, so nature provides all the water.

I agree Wylie, but all I can get is g. byzantinus. But I do love it. This one is stunning! I must look it up...

This UK nursery has it in case anyone is looking...
http://www.rvroger.co.uk/index.php?x=0&y=0&lookup=Gladiolus&linksource=search

..and its not frost hardy.

www.rareplants.co.uk also has a couple of the Gladiolus and Moraea bulbs available now. None are frost tolerant and are winter growing.

Thanks Wylie. Its a funny thing...I was just saying to OH yesterday...when we used to go on holidays to warmer climes, some years back now...I used to get ever so excited about the plants and wondering what I might 'get away with' back home in my conservatory. I've grown Avocado, bougainvillea, Strelizia - to name just a few. These days I don't get that excitement any more as I Am far more accepting of my climate conditions. But it makes me a little wistful for those early horticultural experiments...when I was always so hopeful! I think its time to add a conservatory to our home! ;)

Do that Karen, you'll bless they day you did it.

I get that excitement from hybridizing daylilies. You don't know what will result until it blooms, and siblings can be very different. I am busy until mid-April with the new ones, and then the ones I started last year begin to flower.

Looking forward to seeing your newbies in the spring then! stera, oh was just saying that he read somewhere that every house in Scotland should have one...i'd have to agree with that!

Delete Scotland and write everywhere in GB....

Lol!