ASK THE GARDENERS. Questions & Answers

Q A friend gave my mother some small bulbs last year which she called fragrant gladiolus. They produced very graceful, star-shaped blooms with a brownish-black, star-shaped eye in the center. We dug most of the bulbs before the ground froze, but wonder if the others will come through the winter. Also, we would like to know the proper name for them. It was on the package which we discarded. M.L. Sandusky, Ohio

Your bulbs are Acidanthera Murielae or Abyssinian gladiolus. They are in the same family as the ordinary gladiolus. They are lovely for flower arrangements. However, they are no more hardy than regular gladiolus and take the same care.

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Doc and Katy Abraham are nationally known horticulturists.