Hello everyone! I hope your spring is starting off well. I recently made a wonderful discovery on a nearby military installation. These flowers are growing wild in a planned pine-forest on what was once a garbage dump several decades ago. They've been in bloom for about two weeks now. I've never seen them in this area before despite visiting this area often for several years. I don't know if these are a native species or perhaps the result of someone tossing some old bulbs or seeds into the woods. Never-the-less, they are strikingly beautiful and appear to thrive in the sandy soil and partial shade where they grow.

I am giving thought to attempting to transplant some to my home. Any thoughts or ideas are welcomed.

Gladiolus

https://www.thespruce.com/glad...

https://gardenerdy.com/how-to-...

Davidov, gladiolus, pretty ones. A group of immature corms might have been developing for a few years and just got big enough to bloom. Most certainly a human import at some time. Wait until they've fully finished blooming and lift the corms, then you can plant them in your garden for bloom next year.

But it seems a shame to remove them from that setting (and do you know that someone nearby didn't plant them?). Glads of all colors are available at nurseries and garden centers every year...in your zone maybe late winter early spring? Not sure, but since many are summer flowering, if you can still find some corms it might not be too late to plant them.

In California, we had them in the orchard although they were originally planted in a garden 100 ft away. I've never planted any in Reno because of the wind but last year, I had one. Squirrels!

There are bearded iris all over the desert, I assume for the same reason. Although iris and gladiolous are toxic, it doesn't stop the critters from replanting them.

Very pretty Gladiolus! I wonder if they might be Parrot Gladiola (Gladiolus dalenii) Here's the map showing distribution in Alabama: http://floraofalabama.org/Genu...

More photos for comparison on this page: https://florida.plantatlas.usf...


Be aware, if they are growing on privately owned, or government/military owned property, you will likely need permission from the landowner to remove them.

Those are beautiful gladilous! Like you, I would be tempted to take a few too.

A story: I love the chicory that grows along the roadsides here in southern Indiana. One year I decided to take some home to grow, but it died in my clay soil. So now I just content myself with enjoying it on the roadsides.

Hi, David! Looks like we're neighbors, relatively speaking.

Gladiolus blooms go off quickly like a firework, starting at the bottom. I don't think a single one lasts for 2 weeks @ my house. If you haven't visited the spot where they are almost weekly during their short bloom period, it's understandable that you would have missed them before if they were already big enough to have bloomed in previous years.

These are not unusual to spot in ditches along dirt roads in the area, or just randomly in a rarely mowed spot.

If you keep an eye on them, you should be able to collect seeds when they are ripe. They make a lot of seeds. Seed-grown bulbs would take a few years to reach mature, blooming size. As said, for other color options, often a mystery mix, you can buy bags/boxes of Gladiolus bulbs at Lowe's, WM, HD, but they are probably already gone for the year. If interested, look for them in Feb/March next year. Or you could probably find Gladiolus bulbs online if you wanted to pick a specific color.

Thanks for the quick and thorough responses everyone! I didn't dig any up, but I did take a few cuttings to offer my daughter as a small gift to commemorate a recent Girl Scout achievement. They look brilliant in our living room. (Don't worry, there are still plenty at the site).

I will be back out there early next week. May try to collect some seeds if there are any to be found, but will most likely just try to order some mature bulbs online. They are a very remarkable plant. Can't believe I never really paid gladiolas attention until now!

As for those who warned against taking these from the base, I assure you: they would not be missed. They are growing atop an old dump site in a very remote area. Very few people would ever be likely to see them. Most that would, wouldn't even really give them much consideration...I understand and respect your cautionary advice though. My initial concern was that these may be some rare, protected flora native to Alabama that could warrant special consideration or protection.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded.

How fun that you've discovered a new favorite flower! You're welcome!

If it is an old dump on a mil base, I might be concerned as to what might be buried there, hopefully no haz material.