Gladiolus murielae, fragrant gladiolus
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Bulbs

Gladiolus murielae

fragrant gladiolus

Iridaceae
E African highlands—Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique 3,000-6,000 ft (G. murielae; fragrant gladiolus; nodding white stars maroon throat; jasmine evening scent; lift z3-6)

At a Glance

TypeBulb
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height30-40 inches (75-100 cm)
Width4-6 inches (10-15 cm)
Maturity1 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

7 - 10
Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancetender

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesFragrant (strong)Container Friendly
Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Gladiolus murielae (syn. Acidanthera bicolor var. murielae, Gladiolus callianthus) is a cormous perennial reaching 30-40 inches (75-100 cm) tall with a spread of 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) per corm and an upright, sword-leaved habit. Native to the highlands of East Africa (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique), it produces arching sprays of 3-8 nodding, star-shaped, fragrant white flowers 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) across, each with a distinctive deep maroon-purple blotch at the throat. The sweet, jasmine-like fragrance is most pronounced in evening—one of the most fragrant of all bulbous plants. Days to bloom 70-90 from planting corms. Growth rate is moderate. Hardy to zone 7 with winter mulch; in zones 3-6, corms are lifted in fall and stored frost-free over winter (like dahlias). Sword-shaped, pleated, grey-green leaves 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) long.

Native Range

Gladiolus murielae is native to the highlands of East Africa—Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique at elevations of 3,000-6,000 feet (900-1,800 m).

Suggested Uses

Grown in perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, and containers for ornamental use. Fragrant cut flowers—jasmine-like evening scent. White stars with maroon throat. Arching graceful form—unlike stiff common gladiolus. Late summer-fall bloom (August-September). 30-40 inches. Not suitable for cold-winter areas without annual corm lifting. Late to bloom (70-90 days from planting). Requires lifting and indoor storage z3-6.

How to Identify

Distinguished from common garden gladiolus (G. x hortulanus) by the nodding (versus upright) flower orientation, the strong sweet fragrance (versus little or no fragrance), the star-shaped (versus funnel-shaped) flowers, the white-with-maroon-blotch (versus multicolored) coloring, and the more graceful arching (versus stiff vertical) form. Previously classified as Acidanthera bicolor var. murielae. Fragrant gladiolus—nodding white stars with maroon throat, jasmine-like evening fragrance, arching graceful, East African highland, lift z3-6.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2'6" - 3'4"
Width/Spread4" - 6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white
purple

Foliage Colors

green
grey

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
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SummerFall
Arching sprays of 3-8 nodding, star-shaped, fragrant white flowers with deep maroon-purple throat blotch in late summer to early fall (August-September). Sweet jasmine-like fragrance strongest in evening. Flowers open sequentially from bottom to top over 2-3 weeks. One of the latest-blooming bulbs.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White with deep maroon-purple throat blotch; star-shaped nodding 2-3 inches; fragrant; late summer-fall

Foliage Description

Grey-green; sword-shaped pleated 12-24 inches; upright

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamsand
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

70-90 days from planting corms to bloom

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant corms 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) deep in late spring after all frost danger when soil is warm. Full sun, rich, well-drained soil (pH 6.0-7.0). Consistent moisture during active growth. Days to bloom 70-90 from planting. Stake in exposed locations. In zones 7+, mulch heavily in winter. In zones 3-6, lift corms after first frost blackens foliage, dry for 2-3 weeks, store in cool (40-50°F / 4-10°C) dry location over winter. Replant annually.

Pruning

Cut spent flower stems to base. Allow foliage to yellow naturally before lifting corms (feeds the corm for next year). In frost-free areas, leave in ground.

Pruning Schedule

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fall

Maintenance Level

moderate

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets