Swamp gladiolus, split pen, Gladiolus palustris

The marsh gladiolus and the garden pond at home simply belong together. She feels completely at ease in its bank area. So it's no wonder that it is one of the most popular specimens when it comes to bank planting. It certainly also plays a role that the split pen, as the plant is also called, is extremely undemanding and easy to care for. It may even prove to be hardy up to a point.

Characteristics

• botanical name: Gladiolus palustris
• Genus: Evening blooms (Hesperantha)
• belongs to the iridaceae family
• Trivial names: split pen, swamp gladiolus, water gladiolus or kaffir lily
• deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant
• Growth height: up to 60 centimeters
• Leaves: foliage-like directly at the base of the plant, another leaf higher up
• Flowers: a maximum of six bright purple flowers form an inflorescence
• Flowering period: June to July
• Fruits: small, spherical capsule fruits, the seeds of which are then buoyant
• Toxicity: not toxic, but not edible either
• Origin: Alpine foothills, Lake Constance area, Upper Rhine plain
• limited hardy
• very easy to care for
• very lime tolerant

Location

Gladiolus palustris likes it very sunny. She is also welcome to stand directly in the blazing midday sun. Typically, it is planted either on the bank of a pond or in a swampy bed in the immediate vicinity. When choosing the location, it is also important that it be reasonably protected from the wind.

floor

No special plant substrate is required for the marsh gladiolus. However, the soil should be moderately moist, water-permeable and loamy. It has proven to be almost ideal if on the one hand it is pH-neutral, on the other hand it is also calcareous. The tubers of Gladiolus palustris are planted around five centimeters deep in the ground.

to water

Under normal circumstances, watering the marsh gladiolus shouldn't be a major problem, nor should it require a lot of effort - provided, of course, that their location is actually naturally moist is. It is important to ensure that the soil around the plant always remains moderately moist. In hot summers, however, the soil can dry out even in an otherwise swampy environment. Then it is imperative to pour. The aim is to ensure a consistently moist soil environment.

Fertilization and pruning

In the case of calcareous soil, fertilization of Gladiolus palustris is not necessary. Under certain circumstances, however, a little lime has to be mixed into the ground once a year. It is also not necessary to cut the plant. It is only advisable to manually remove dead leaves and flowers from time to time.

Multiplication

Gladiolus palustris forms so-called rhizomes. In order to propagate the plant, you simply cut off a piece of such a rhizome with a spade in summer and plant it in the ground. It will usually have grown by autumn at the latest and forms the basis for a new plant.

Diseases and pests

If the location is right and, above all, the soil is consistently moist, Gladiolus palustris will not be affected by pests or any diseases.

Overwinter

Basically, the swamp gladiolus is hardy. It can therefore be overwintered outdoors relatively easily. In areas that experience mild winters, the tuber therefore simply remains in the ground. In regions where the winters are rather severe, it is advisable to cover the plant well with brushwood, mulch or a fleece.