I planted this and it came up once, don`t recall what it was but so pretty I want to plant again when it is time.

Some sort of iris? I don't grow them and my guess is probably not even close. Sorry. I know someone will pin it down for you.

I don't know what it is either, but I can't wait until someone posts that does... I want it !

Isn't that just a gladiolus?

Looks like a Gladiolus to me too, in cold zones you have to dig them up and store them inside during the winter then replant them the next spring.

That sounds better than "iris"!

Oh, my first thought was gladiolus, too... but then Ken threw me off with the "iris" thing

My father-in-law always grew a bunch of glads in his garden, one time he brought me a beautiful big bouquet of them when he came over for dinner; next thing I knew there were ants all over my kitchen from the darned things (I don't remember ever having ants on them when I've grown them, so I don't know what was up with that.)

daylilydreams said:...in cold zones you have to dig them up and store them inside during the winter then replant them the next spring.

Or just buy new ones each year...

Sorry, Sandy. I did not mean to throw y'all a curve. I am going back out and re-pot some more orchids. I don't seem to be doing anyone any good here.

Ken, I definitely wouldn't worry about planting gladiolus if I could have orchids !

daylilydreams said:Looks like a Gladiolus to me too, in cold zones you have to dig them up and store them inside during the winter then replant them the next spring.

Whoops, no wonder it never came back, I was blaming the squirrels! Thanks for the info

Linda, that is why I don't grow them besides that the tall ones needed staking when I did try them one year.

I should at least KNOW what a gladiolus looks like!

I'm late but I agree gladiolus.

Old House Gardens has some really spectacular ones!

Just a gladiolus? I have them come back every year, and yes they do have to be staked most of the time, but they have to be one of the most beautiful blooming flowers in the garden.
https://www.google.com/search?...

I had some glads years ago and they came back several years for me, although if i remember right, they were smaller than the first time they grew, didn't get as tall
I think you can plant them a little deeper than recommended and they over winter better that way.

And a very pretty glad, too!

Mine are about 8" deep, I think, and most have returned the past three years. Lost my lavender ones last winter, but it was an exceptionally cold one. I was really happy to see the pinks come back!




There are also some smaller, reliably hardy glads as well.

Sorry, Larry, heh, did not mean to be disrespectful of glads. I like them, just haven't had a lot of luck with them. I grew some that were green one year and they were really neat looking; looked wonderful in bouquets. But they didn't come back. I'd like to try some of the shorter varieties and try Chelle's suggestion for planting them deeper.