‘Jessie M. Conner’ Gladiolus1

Abstract

Abstract Gladiolus (G. hortulanus L. H. Bailey), when planted in landscapes, offer a variety of flower colors and shapes found in few cultivated plants. Unfortunately, use of gladiolus in the home landscape has diminished dramatically over the past 20 years. A major contributor to this decline has been the emphasis in breeding programs to develop exhibition flowers with long thin stems and numerous florets, qualities not desired in a landscape plant. When used in the home garden, the modern cultivars have to be staked and tied or they collapse and break during adverse weather conditions. Another factor in the decline of gladiolus has been the disease susceptibility to Fusarium (F oxysporum f. sp. gladioli Snyd. & Hans.) corm and root rot. Without fumigation of the soil and pre-plant and postharvest fungicide treatments of the corms, most cultivars will have only a maximum garden life of 2-3 years. A garden cultivar, in addition to disease tolerance, should possess a strong root system, a strong, straight spike, and a rachis with at least 14 florets. Plants should be vigorous, self-perpetuating, and easily propagated. ‘Jessie M. Conner’ (Fig. 1) possesses all of these qualities.