Abyssinian gladiolus

Plant 10 to 16cm deep on a bed of sharp sand in fertile, well-drained soil. Lift when foliage dies back, discard old corms and store new corms in a dry frost-free place until planting in the spring. In milder areas a thick dry winter mulch may suffice

No pruning required

Propagate by separating cormlets when dormant

Susceptible to thrips, aphids and slugs

Susceptible to grey moulds and gladiolus corm rot