Gladiolus nanus Vulcano

The Gladiolus nanus 'Vulcano' is a variety of dwarf gladiolus, charmingly named "butterfly gladiolus", which bears delicate and light flowers, pink fuchsia spotted with violet and white, from late spring. It has more than one advantage to reconcile bouquet enthusiasts and perennial plant lovers. Its hardiness allows it to survive the winter in the garden in most parts of the region and its short stems are not afraid of the wind. With its graceful silhouette, it will find its place in natural gardens and undoubtedly in cottage gardens.

Cultivated gladioli, belonging to the iris family, are hybrids. They are divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early-flowering) and Nanus (butterflies). 'Vulcano' belongs to the third group. It blooms in June, before the large-flowered gladioli. These Nanus group gladioli are characterised by their bright-coloured spots reminiscent of butterfly wings. Each bulb (or corm) produces two or three slender spikes 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) long , bearing flowers 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter. Vulcano flowers are very brightly coloured in pink fuchsia, the lower petals are spotted with purple-violet, and the large upper petal is washed with white. The foliage is slender, sword-shaped, glaucous green marked with purple at the base, arranged in a fan shape, forming a clump 60 cm (24in) tall.

Dwarf gladioli are hardier than large gladioli. In the garden, their elegant silhouette will blend well with grasses and perennial flowers with light blooms. Plant them in groups in borders with salvias, tobacco plants, willowherbs and bee balms, wallflowers and forget-me-nots. They are perfect plants for cottage gardens. The dwarf gladiolus 'Vulcano' will look particularly lovely planted in a large container. For making bouquets, pick the gladioli early in the morning when they have opened two or three flowers. Leave 5 to 6 leaves per stem to allow the bulb to continue its development. Remove the first two buds at the top of the flower spike. Plant them every ten days in March/April. This way, you will have flowers all summer.

The gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin gladius. Its wild forms were often represented in jewelry or on tapestries and fabrics made by the Semites before the Christian era.