There are about 180 species of cormous perennial, and 1,000’s of cultivars, in this genus. They occur in rocky slopes, seasonally dry grasslands, and marshy areas, mainly in South Africa, but also from the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, Northwestern and Eastern Africa, Madagascar, and Western Asia. They are grown for their showy spikes of usually open, funnel shaped flowers, borne mainly from spring to early autumn. The flowers each have 6 tepals: usually 1 central upper tepal, 3 often quite small lower or lip tepals, and 2 side, or wing, tepals. They are carried side by side, or one above another and open from the bottom of the spikes upward, older blooms dying off as new ones develop (the number of buds open at any one time is given in parentheses in each cultivar description below). Erect leaves, borne in basal fans, are narrow, linear or sword shaped, mid to dark green, and 10-36″ long. Plant in this genus vary greatly from very small and sometimes fragrant species to the spectacular, colorful spike of the florists gladiolus.

There are 3 main hybrid group are the Grandiflorus (bloom in late spring to early autumn and are regarded as to demanding), the Primulinus group (bloom early to late summer and is a hybrid group), and the Nanus (or Butterfly) group (blooms in early summer). The flower sizes are divided into the 5 following categories:

Giant: are 5 ½” across or more

Large: are 4 ½-5 ½” across

Medium: are 3 ½- 4 ½” across

Small: are 2 ½- 3 ½” across

Miniatures: under 2 ½” across

Grow in fertile, well drained soil in full sun to partial shade, planting the corms 4″ deep, and 3-6″ apart in spring. For gladioli left in the ground, apply a high-potash liquid fertilizer when the flower spikes reach 1/3to1/2 their final height repeat every 10-14 days until 3 weeks after flowering. Gladioli are hardy wherever the soil does not freeze deeply in winter, generally from Zones 8-10. Protect with a thick, loose mulch or plant near a warm wall to extend hardiness, in some cases to zones 6. Tall stems may need staking. Lift corms over winter in cold climates, store when perfectly dry.

Prone to gladiolus corm rot (Fusarium), gray mold (Botrytis), viruses, aster yellows, spider mites, thrips, and aphids.

G. caryophyllaceus – G. hirsuus – This cormous perennial from South Africa grows 20-30″ tall.  It produces linear, hairy leaves, 8-24″ long.  From late winter to spring it bears one sided or 2 ranked spikes of 2-8 bell or funnel shaped, hawthorn scented, pink or mauve flowers, to 1 ½” across, the lip tepals spotted or streaked red or pink

There are about 150 species of mainly deciduous, occasionally evergreen, sometimes spiny shrubs in the Grossulariaceae family, in this genus. They are widely distributed in woodlands, scrub, and rocky places mostly in the Northern temperate region with a few occurring in South America. Some species, such as blackcurrant (R. Nigrum), redcurrant (R. Rubrum), and gooseberry (R. Uva-crispa), are grown for their edible fruits. Those described here are grown primarily for their flowers.   They can grow to 10′ feet tall and have long, arching stems which may be reddish brown and carry mid green leaves which are alternate and often 3 to 5 lobed, often with scalloped or toothed edges and a covering of bristly hairs beneath. Few provide a dash of orange and/or red color in autumn before dropping. Small, tubular cup or bell shaped flowers, sometimes fragrant, and with 4, rarely 5, larger, spreading sepals, are held singly or in pendent racemes mostly in spring or summer. The many seeded berry like fruits are spherical or ovoid, and vary in color from red or black to green or white. Grow in a shrub border, R. laurifolium is best where it’s late winter flowers can be seen, R. speciosum and R. viburnifolium are attractive grown against a wall. R. sanguineum may be used as informal hedging, R. alpinum may be sheared into a formal hedge. Some species are not self fertile and must be palnted in groups to ensure good fruiting.

Grow in moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. R. laurifolium will grow well in partial shade. R. sanguineum ‘Brocklebankii’ should be shaded from hot sun. Trim hedges after flowering.

Prone to aphids, caterpillars, scale insects, dieback, downy mildew, anthracnose , powdery mildew, rust, white heart rot, and septoria leaf spot. Some are host to white pink blister rust but there are disease resistant cultivars.

R. laurifolium – This spreading, spineless, dioecious, evergreen shrub from Western China grows 3-5′ feet tall and wide. It produces ovate-oblong, coarsely toothed, leathery, dark green leaves, up to 4″ long. In late winter and early spring, bears cup shaped, greenish yellow flowers that droop gracefully in racemes, the males to 2″ long, the females to 1″ long. Female flowers are followed by downy, ovoid fruit, to ½” long, red at first, ripening to black.

Zones 7-9

There are about 180 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, groundcovers, and twining climbers in this genus. They are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, where they grow in varied habitats ranging from woodland and thickets to rocky places. They are grown for their tubular to funnel shaped, often sweetly fragrant flowers, which are usually 2 lipped or have 5 small, spreading lobes. The leathery leaves are held in opposite pairs, up to 6″ long and usually simple. Honey suckles may be grown in a variety of situations: train climbers on a wall or fence, or into a a large shrub or small tree, grow shrub in a shrub border, or use for hedging or as a groundcover. Some species may become invasive. The berries may cause mild stomach upset if ingested. Honeysuckles are attractive to bees and birds.

Grow shrubs in any well drained soil in full or partial shade, grow climbers in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil. They may become straggly unless pruned and some may need to pruned twice a year.

Prone to aphids, leaf roller, scale insects, dieback, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and blights.

L. fragrantissima – Winter Honeysuckle – This species is the best known and the most fragrant. Is a bushy, spreading, deciduous or semi evergreen shrub with paired, oval leaves, to 3″ long, dull, dark green above, blue-green beneath, with bristly edges when young.. In winter and early spring it bears tubular, 2 lipped, very fragrant, creamy white flowers, ½” long, held in pairs. Berries are dark red.

Zones 4-8

There are about 150 species of annual, biennials, and deciduous and evergreen perennials and sub shrubs in this genus. They occur from coast, salt marshes, and deserts worldwide with the major concentration in Mediterranean, Central Asia and the Canary Islands. They produce simple, smooth edged or pinnatifid, pointed leaves, often appearing almost stalkless, are mostly held in basal rosettes. In summer and autumn they bear more or less one sided corymb-like panicles composed of small, stalkless, papery flowers and bracts. The calyces are tubular, and the corollas have 5 lobed petals joined only at the bases. The calyces are usually a different color from the corollas, and persist after the petals have fallen. Long flowering plants are suitable for a sunny herbaceous border and for naturalizing. They are also good for cutting and drying. The larger perennials grow well in coastal sites, the dwarf species are effective in a trough or rock garden.

Grow in preferably sandy, well drained soil in full sun. Large perennials tolerate dry, stony soil. Protect dwarf species from winter moisture. Divide perennials in spring. Tolerant to sea spray and low rainfall.

Prone to rust, leaf spots, flower spots, gray mold, southern blight, and crown rot.

L. brassicifolium – This perennial from the Canary Islands grows 8-18″ tall with thick woody base and purple to white, tubular flowers.

Zones 9-11

There are about 35 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs sometimes small trees, in this genus. They occur in Southeastern and Eastern Asia, Eastern USA, Mexico and the Antilles, generally occurring in woodland. They have simple, pointed, glossy, leathery leaves, held alternately, and are grown for their dense axillary, pendent racemes or clusters of white, pink, or cream, urn shaped flowers, sometimes bell shaped, ovoid or cylindrical flowers borne on previous years growth. Suitable for a woodland garden.

Grow in acidic to neutral, mode4rately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil in partial or deep shade. Intolerant of drought.

Prone to tar spot, rust, and leaf gall.

L. ferruginea – Rusty lyonia – This spreading, bushy, evergreen or small tree from Southeastern USA grows 15′ feet tall and 6′ feet wide. It produces elliptic to ovate or obovate, leathery, dark green leaves, to 3 ½” long, usually with the edged rolled under. The shoots and undersides of the leaves are covered with red-brown scales. In late winter or spring it bears pendent clusters of up to 10 urn shaped, white flowers, 1/8″ long.

Zones 8-9

There are about 80 species of annuals, biennials, often woody based plants, in this genus. They occur mostly on well drained, calcareous soil from Europe to Northern Africa, Western and Central Asia and North America. They are grown for their often yellow sweetly scented to scentless flowers, to 1″ across, each with 4 petals arranged in a cross, borne in dense, usually elongating, corymb like racemes. Most wall flowers produce inversely lance shaped, toothed, softly hairy leaves, 1 1/4-5″ long. A number are fine winter to spring flowering, while some flower all winter or all year in very mild areas. Many are ideal for a rock garden or wall, the front of a sunny border, or a raised bed. The biennials are useful as spring bedding plants in a border.

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well drained, neutral or ideally, alkaline soil in full sun. Trim perennials lightly after flowering to prevent plants from becoming leggy.

Prone to white rust, downy mildew, rust, clubroot, mosaic virus, snails and slugs, and caterpillars.

E. ‘Bowles Mauve’ – E. ‘E.A. Bowles’ – This vigorous, sub shrubby, often short lived evergreen perennial grows 30-36″ tall and 2-4′ feet wide. It produces narrowly lance shaped, glaucous gray-green leaves, From late winter to summer it bears deep rosy purple flowers, to ½” across, in long racemes. In mild climates it almost flowers continuously.

Zones 6-10

There are about 80 species of annuals, biennials, often woody based plants, in this genus. They occur mostly on well drained, calcareous soil from Europe to Northern Africa, Western and Central Asia and North America. They are grown for their often yellow sweetly scented to scentless flowers, to 1″ across, each with 4 petals arranged in a cross, borne in dense, usually elongating, corymb like racemes. Most wall flowers produce inversely lance shaped, toothed, softly hairy leaves, 1 1/4-5″ long. A number are fine winter to spring flowering, while some flower all winter or all year in very mild areas. Many are ideal for a rock garden or wall, the front of a sunny border, or a raised bed. The biennials are useful as spring bedding plants in a border.

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well drained, neutral or ideally, alkaline soil in full sun. Trim perennials lightly after flowering to prevent plants from becoming leggy.

Prone to white rust, downy mildew, rust, clubroot, mosaic virus, snails and slugs, and caterpillars.

E. bicolor – This evergreen shrubby species from Madeira and the Canary Islands grows 36″ tall. It bears flower spikes of beautifully fragrant white to pale yellow flowers that turn pale lilac as they age.

Zones 9-10

There are about 7 species of small clump forming perennials with knobby tubers, in this genus. They occur in damp woodland and shady place in Eurasia. They are grown for their butter cup shaped flowers, borne in late winter and early spring. Stem leaves, to ½” or more long, often finely dissected, form ruffs immediately below the flowers, basal leaves ½-1 1/4″ or long, are palmately lobed or pinnate. Most species are best grown around deciduous tree, where they will form carpets of flowers and may naturalize in grass. Best grown in woodland garden.

All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with sap may irritate skin.

Grow in alkaline, fertile, humus rich soil that does not dry out in summer, in full sun or light, dapple shade. Plant tuber 2″ deep in autumn. Divide establish clumps in fall.

Prone to smuts and slugs.

E. x tubergenii ‘Guinea Gold’ – This vigorous, clump forming, sterile, tuberous perennial is a cross between E. cilicica and E. hyemalis and grows 3-4″ tall. In late winter above a ruff of dissected, bronze-green leaves it bears golden flowers, 3/4-1 1/4″ across.

Zones 4-9

There are about 7 species of small clump forming perennials with knobby tubers, in this genus. They occur in damp woodland and shady place in Eurasia. They are grown for their butter cup shaped flowers, borne in late winter and early spring. Stem leaves, to ½” or more long, often finely dissected, form ruffs immediately below the flowers, basal leaves ½-1 1/4″ or long, are palmately lobed or pinnate. Most species are best grown around deciduous tree, where they will form carpets of flowers and may naturalize in grass. Best grown in woodland garden.

All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with sap may irritate skin.

Grow in alkaline, fertile, humus rich soil that does not dry out in summer, in full sun or light, dapple shade. Plant tuber 2″ deep in autumn. Divide establish clumps in fall.

Prone to smuts and slugs.

E. hyemalis – Winter Aconite – This clump forming, tuberous perennial from Europe grows 2-3″ tall. In late winter and early spring it bears bright cup shaped yellow flowers, 3/4-1 1/4″ across, each held above a ruff off dissected, bright green leaves. It quickly forms large colonies, particularly in high alkaline soils.

Zones 4-9

There are about 7 species of small clump forming perennials with knobby tubers, in this genus. They occur in damp woodland and shady place in Eurasia. They are grown for their butter cup shaped flowers, borne in late winter and early spring. Stem leaves, to ½” or more long, often finely dissected, form ruffs immediately below the flowers, basal leaves ½-1 1/4″ or long, are palmately lobed or pinnate. Most species are best grown around deciduous tree, where they will form carpets of flowers and may naturalize in grass. Best grown in woodland garden.

All parts may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with sap may irritate skin.

Grow in alkaline, fertile, humus rich soil that does not dry out in summer, in full sun or light, dapple shade. Plant tuber 2″ deep in autumn. Divide establish clumps in fall.

Prone to smuts and slugs.

E. cilicica – This clump forming, tuberous perennial from the Middle East grows 2-3″ tall. It bears bright yellow flowers, 3/4-1 ½” across, held above ruffs of finely dissected, glossy, bronze tinged, mid green leaves in early spring. Similar to E. hymalis but with more numerous leaf lobes and slightly larger flowers.

Zones 4-9