PUSHING THE BORDERS

Starting with a question, the Cornish call these gladiolus "Jacks" when ever spotted by visitors I get asked what species the actually are because when people try and buy them they get plants that produce pale washed out coloured flowers. I got told they were a cultivar introduced for the cut flower trade back in the 1800's but have no idea whether that is true or not

Jacks 0004 by charliepridham, on Flickr

cantua buxifolia 0012 by charliepridham, on Flickr

My new Bougainvilea, taking its time to settle to flowering

Bougainvillea don mario 0007 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Original plant (which came off one outdoors down here, shrugged off -3c in the conservatory and has been flowering since march
bougainvillea cv 0006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

The Pandorea are all great in pots when under glass as the restricted root run seems to make the flower more

pandorea jasminoides 0011 by charliepridham, on Flickr

pandorea jasminoides rosea superba 0010 by charliepridham, on Flickr

passiflora amethyst 0008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Same here, Charlie. The naturalised ones are a strong magenta, the 'off the shelf' Gladiolus byzantinus are paler, smaller and about a fortnight earlier. I'd love to find a source for the darker ones, every time I try to divide them I never dig deep enough.

Your 'Jacks' look magnificent Charlie. I grow the G. byzantinus with a flower colour much the same as your 'Jacks' but my plants are grown in poor dry soil and look rather scrawny by comparison.
Are your plants in part shade?

Anthony Hamilton managed to grow plants from very scarce 'Whistling Jack' seed and got Gladiolus illyricus, in a weak and not long lived form. His definitive article is available on the RHS web site, but as a PDF and I can't find how to link to that.
If you Google:

'Two 'wild' UK Gladiolus RHS'

then it is the first option offered.

EDIT - the link is here.

In brief 'Whistling Jack' is an almost sterile clone without a proper binomial taxonomy.

My increasing stock was lost under brambles last year, and despite me clearing it, none have come up this year.

Like everyone else I had trouble sourcing it.

Keep your eyes open at Tregrehan, there may be some for sale in flower, which is the only way to know you have the right thing.

Chad

ps. Kew list it as Gladiolus × byzantinus and a hybrid of G. dubius × G. italicus which contradicts the RHS paper.

Liz is intending to do a few pots of it next year, it spreads quite rapidly here. I will have a read of your link later Chad

Things are now starting to feel a bit dry, suits some plants like this Teucrium, this is the standard form , I also have 'Azurea' with a deeper blue to the flowers although its still quite small

teucrium fruiticans 0008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

teucrium fruiticans 0007 by charliepridham, on Flickr

The Roses this year are fantastic (no rain to spoil the flowers!)

rosa Rosy Cushion 0005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Rosa Cooperi is doing especially well (would do even better if I could curb the Bamboo without harming it!)

DSC_0006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

mittraria coccinea 0009 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Buddleja colvilei ‘Tregye’




The once flowering shrub rose 'Kasteel Hex'.
I'm not sure it is an advance on the old 'Ferdinand Pichard' which repeats.
But it is the one I've got!

Chad

Anyone want to hazard a guess at which Deutzia this is? came from Mark Fillan but he cant remember and it never had a label in the first place, its tall and hardy.

Deutzia 0007 by charliepridham, on Flickr

This broom is loving life with the cold winters and long hot spells.

Cytisus battandieri 0001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

The scent is amazing

Cytisus battandieri 0002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Lathyrus tuberosus 0004 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Some Roses, spoilt for choice they have all been early and wonderful this year

Rosa Veilchenblau 0003 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Rosa smarty 0011 by charliepridham, on Flickr

rosa Rosy Cushion 0005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Rosa Rambling Rosy 0008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Anyone grown Rodgerisia from seed? I am much taken with them and thought I may give it a go.

Rodgerisia 0006 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Much wine has been consumed going around the Lilies on beetle patrol! so far so good we haven't had to spray yet this year

martagon lily 0005 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Rosa helenia hybrid 0003 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Very few of the gardens perennial plants of 35 years ago are still with us - this is one, recently rescued from under some thug

Campanula alliarifolia 0001 by charliepridham, on Flickr

I do love a survivor :)

I'm looking forward to the mini-meet at yours Charlie, your garden has a lot going on at the moment.