Assuming that what I grow is in fact G. murielae, much of the literature underestimates its potential height. Last year was my first growing these, and in full sun and rich sandy loam my plants easily exceeded 4 feet in height. As recommended, I kept the soil constantly moist.
Some, but not all corms, flowered as Crocosmia 'Emberglow' reached its peak bloom. The pure white in the flowers works well with scarlet red. Bloom stalks continued to appear right up to first frost, at which point I cut them down and lifted them for winter storage. As 2013 was my first year growing these, I don't know whether this bloom cycle will occur again this year. As of a few days ago, all corms had overwintered well, stored in a box of peat in the basement. A bonus is the numerous white, pea-sized cormels they produced!

Reply to this comment

I purchase these little bulbs every year. They have the most lovely smell.
Planted closely in the center of a large pot, they give vertical presence, much like the popular spike, and they also produce a fragrant flower in the latter part of the summer.

Reply to this comment

I have had these for two years and they are really lovely. The bloom sort of hangs on the end of a slightly downward facing short stem from the main branch, but the flowers show up well. It is so delicate and unusual.

1 reply

I also see this bulb listed as Gladiolus Acidanthera, also with the name Peacock orchid. Got the diminutive bulbs as part of a white and yellow flower garden kit with no labeling other than the photo. Planted and will see what happens. Will treat as gladiolus in Michigan, lifting in fall to overwinter indoors. Looking forward to seeing what the fragrance is like and how well they do in soil with mulch and compost. Will add in some perlite and sand per recommendations.

Note that the plant is known by many names, including Gladiolus murielae, Gladiolus callianthus, Abyssinian gladiolus and peacock orchid.

Reply to this comment

This plant does not work particularly well in my Zone 7b North Georgia Mountains garden. In some summers, I am able to get spring-planted corms to bloom, but many times in first season, and almost always in second season and onward, the foliage spikes grow, but there are no flowers. When the spikes do bloom, only one or two flowers open at a time, with the previously opened blooms dangling as unsightly blobs, distracting from the beauty of the open flower. For me, this plant is not worth the space or effort to grow.

Reply to this comment

A fellow ATP member sent me 2 little bulbs of this around 1 yr. ago. I planted them & they did not show any green shoots until late spring this year when the leaves shot up quickly to 2 - 2.5 feet. It has been an agreeable, easy care plant. Today I got the first bloom open on them. Lovely! And the fragrance! The fragrance is so heady & not the type that you have to literally stick your nose into the flower to smell it. There are 2 more buds coming along. I can't wait!

Thank you, Charlene, for gifting me with these!

Reply to this comment