Plant hardy gladioli for an elegant show

Big and blowsy mid-to-late summer-flowering gladioli aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there are several daintier types that are elegant and easier to use in pots and borders. The Gladiolus nanus group have slender stems up to H60cm (2ft) and smaller flowers. They bloom in late spring and early summer. Gladiolus communis byzantinus is a wildflower from the Mediterranean, which has made itself at home in Cornwall where it’s naturalised and is known as whistling Jack. The fabulous magenta pink flowers add a splash of colour to the late spring garden.

Louise says: “Move containers planted with half-hardy and tender plants next to a sunny wall of your house. This provides shelter and encourages them to flower for longer”