GORDON AINSLEY 
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA 
SEEDS OF SOUTH AFRICAN GLADIOLUS SPECIES 
Each Spring I receive seeds of a number of wild Gladiolus from a col¬ 
lector friend in South Africa, Some of these species are most interesting in 
their unusual form and coloring. A few of the commoner species are the 
parents of the large flowering forms of Gladiolus. Many of these wild types 
are very fragrant and, with their unique shapes and exotic color combina¬ 
tions, furnish endless possibilities for Gladiolus breeders. 
Some species bloom quickly from seed as in the case of G. Maculatus, 
which bloomed last summer after being planted for only six months. Other 
species require one or two seasons to bloom. It takes a long time to order 
and receive seeds from South Africa. After my supply has been sold, it will 
be months before another lot is received; therefore, order early. No responsi¬ 
bility is assumed for this Gladiolus seed in regard to it being “true to name” 
or its “fertility,” for I have no control over it. However, I will say that all 
seed from this source that I have sown during the past two seasons has ger¬ 
minated very satisfactorily. The descriptions of the following species have 
been supplied by the collector. If possible, kindly give second and third 
choice in case some species have been sold out. 
ALATUS—A peculiar type, should be useful in 
hybridizing. Large flowers, terra-cotta with 
green or yellow on lower segments. Sweet 
scented. 6 in. to 1 ft. high .50 
ANGUSTUS—Very branched, of the “Painted 
Lady” type with very long narrow perianth 
tube .50 
BLANDUS—Typical “Painted Lady” coloring. 1 
1-2 ft; up to 20 blooms on a stem, often 
branched .50 
10-20 in a spray, pale yellow mottled brown. 
BREVIFOLIUS—Blooms late autumn, small flow¬ 
ers, dainty pink and white, sometimes blue .75 
CALLISTUS—3 ft. high, flowers well spaced out 
on stem, pale pink or white with deeper throat 
markings. Manner of growth reminds one of 
Primulinus Hybrids .75 
CARMINEUS—Flowers in autumn and the long 
leaves come later. Very intense red. Large 
flowers on short stem .50 
CRASSIFOLIUS—Flowers late. Flowers smaller 
and deeper pink than G. Stanfordiae .50 
C-USPIDATUS—More delicate than G. Blandus, 
flowers yellow with carmine throat markings, 1 
ft. upper segments narrow and very waved .50 
DEBILIS—A very pretty spring-flowering species, 
1 1-2 to 2 ft. high on thin wiry stems, blos¬ 
soms white, very prettily marked with deep 
carmine .50 
FORMOSUS—Flowers cream, blotched with purple, 
height 1 to 1 1-2 ft.75 
GRACILIS—The earliest to bloom, 1-2 ft. hgh, 
very graceful, flowers blue, marked with yel¬ 
low on the lower lip .50 
GRANDIS—A most attractive flower of perfect 
form with pointed, waved segments. Midsum¬ 
mer blooming with flowers of reddish-brown or 
bronze, mottled with yellow, evening scented .50 
HIRSUTUS—Large deep pink blossoms, striped 
white. Sweetly scented. Very robust and hand¬ 
some .1.00 
LEICHTLINI—Spikes 4 ft. ; flowers orange and 
red .50 
ODORATUS—New species, winter blooming, large 
flowers marked brown or mauve. Sweetly scent¬ 
ed by day .1.00 
ORCHIDIFLORUS—Very attractive, resembles G. 
Alatus in shape, having upper segments elong¬ 
ated and turned over, flowers soft bronze, some¬ 
times marked with purple. Sweetly scented 1.00 
PAPILIO—Two to three feet with large bell¬ 
shaped flowers marked with dull grey and 
purple .75 
PSITTACINUS—Height 5 ft., large flowers on 
strong stems, red flecked with orange .75 
SPLENDENS—Flowers on long sprays resembling 
Gladiolus cardinalis but more delicate and more 
intense color. Flowers autumn .1.00 
STANFORDIAE—Flowers autumn, plants make 
nice clumps of foliage with many sprays of 
pink and white flowers .1.00 
TRISTIS—Height 4-6 ft., very thin stems, flowers 
Very sweet-scented after sunset. Flowers mid¬ 
summer .50 
VILLOSUS—Flowers with G. Gracilis. Pink, some¬ 
what smaller .75 
WATERMEYERI—Blooms in early spring. Large, 
cream, veined crimson flower, sweetly scent¬ 
ed .1.00 
Packets contain from 12 to 25 seeds each, accord¬ 
ing to the rareness of the species. Half packets 
of the species listed at 1.00 will be supplied at 
.50 each. Half packets of species listed at .75 w ill 
be supplied at .40 each. Half packets of the .50 
species at .25. 
