Gladiolus nanus 'Alba'
 
Family: Iridaceae
Hardy Herbaceous Perennial (corms)
 
Light Preference: Sun
Moisture Preference: Moist well drained (good drainage essential)
Height: 60cm
Growth Habit: lance shaped leaves with flower spike 
Flowering season: Late spring - Early summer
Planting Use: Mass planting, borders, cut flower
 
Description: Gladiolus nanus 'Alba' is a small growing gladioli that forms healthy perennial clumps in ideal situations with good drainage, such as raised beds.   It's lance shaped leaves produce flower spikes of multiple pale cream star like blooms.  More delicate, arching in habit and hardier then showy and stiff hybrid gladioli. 
 
As it grows from corms, make sure some leaf is left on when picking and that it is left to die down naturally before tidying up, so the corms get to store energy for next year. There a many lovely coloured G. nanus cultivars, but I have found that G. nanus 'Alba' (and G. nanus 'Robinetta') seem to perennialise most readily without the need for lifting and storing, as is recommended with some cultivars (It can be good to do this every 3 years or so to increase vigor though).  Rust can sometimes be an issue, especially later in the season, so I recommend good air flow around plants, good drainage, and good hygiene (remove and burn/don't compost any rusty dead leaves to limit spores for next season).
 
Notes on cutting: Gladioli nanus is a great addition to your cut flower garden.  Not only is it beautiful and graceful in arrangements, it flowers during the lull between the abundance of spring flowers and summer flowers, when flowers are more scarce.
Pick in the cool of day when the lower flower buds are just opening (they will continue to open well in the vase) for the longest vase life. 
 
Note on nomenclature: Though nanus is often written as such, it is technically not a species name, but a name for a group of small gladiolus hybrids developed as garden plants (nanus means small).  
 
Supplied in 1L recycled plastic pots