Please name these Bulbs on my lawn

9 years ago

My mom bought bulbs from a nursery in Upstate NY, discarded the packaging and forgot the name. I want to know what it is, so we know how to take care of it, and what to plant around it. So far, it looks like tulips, but we know nothing about bulbs.

Here are some clues:

- The picture on the box looked kinda like a poppy or anemone. I asked her about those names, and she said it was def not either of those.

- They said to plant in yard from May to July and would take 6 weeks to sprout.

- They were planted first week of June, sprouted within 1-2 weeks, and some even coming up now. The tallest leaves are about a foot high!

- There were three bulbs planted in the area pictured, but the bulbs seem to sprout 1-3 plants each.

- They are a mix of colors, red, white...

- They are a perennial...

Comments (11)

duluthinbloomz4
9 years ago
Gladiolus.

There might have been little cormlets attached that fell away from the main corm when planting which would explain the smaller plants.

See Google images link with glad corms/cormlets.

Here is a link that might be useful: glad corms and attached cormlets
User
9 years ago
or sparaxis tricolour.....quite a few possible monocots but all will be revealed when they flower
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
9 years ago
Whatever they are, why plant them in the yard? (As opposed to a mulched bed or border?
duluthinbloomz4
9 years ago
Well, if you're a literalist and " they said to plant in the yard..." :-)
shadeyplace
9 years ago
and then mow them down? LOL
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
psst ... tell her she missed to box ... lol

ken
nattydoll
Original Author
9 years ago
Ha, ha, very funny, y'all.

We don't have a flower bed. Although I suggested planting them all as a border along the wall, she put a few there, and some flanking either sides of the box. I didn't understand this logic, either, hehe, BUT she put Asiatic Lilies IN the box, thinking they would last longer. I have been taking up space in the box, to"hide" edibles from pedestrians. ha.
nattydoll
Original Author
9 years ago
It looks like they are Gladiolus! There are some pretty red flowers opening on them - (just red, not red and orange, that's just the glare).

The tallest ones are about 3 feet tall, in my North facing lawn. One in a shadier area is flopping over - possibly thanks to the maintenance guy's leaf blower.

How can I best stake these? Should I put the pole behind them, tying them, or in front of the stalks, so they can lean forward on the poles?
duluthinbloomz4
9 years ago
They may not flop - the florets on yours are smaller and not quite as heavy as the Grandifloras can often get. If you do feel the need to stake them - put the stake a few inches away in the opposite direction from which they may lean, and tie off with something flexible like the "gardener's friend" - old panty hose cut on the bias to make a long rope. That won't cut into plants.
nattydoll
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the tip! One was laying almost flat tonight. I staked it with a foot long stick I found, gonna buy some bamboo or plastic soon. Also gonna see if they were flopping bc of the heat - haven't been watering a lot lately.
northerner_on
9 years ago
These are Gladiolus 'Atom', or a close relative. They are shorter, mature earlier, and are suitable for people with small gardens and short growing seasons. I have been growing them a few years, so I get to enjoy the blooms instead of losing the scapes to frost before they fully mature. They do need staking, and can be successfully lifted and stored for next season.