CANNAS AND GLADIOLI

Garden and forest. / Volume 10, Issue 497.
[September 1, 1897, 339-348]

A novel and highly decorative use of the small-flowered forms of Canna with Gladiolus gandavensis is practised by the Parisian market-growers. The Cannas are planted in the usual manner in six or eight inch pots, and along with each one, two or three corms of the Gladiolus are placed; these grow with the Cannas and when in flower they combine admirably with their leaves, having a much better effect than even the best varieties of Canna, while their cost is only about a franc per pot. For the decoration of halls, cafes, restaurants, etc., they find much favor with the Parisians, and to the uninitiated the flowers of the Gladiolus serve just as well, probably better than the best of Cannas. It may be that the " trick " is well known to American market-growers, but I have never seen examples of it in England. It is certainly a cheap and easy method of producing serviceable material for ordinary decoration. A bed of common Cannas and this Gladiolus, or even mixed varieties, would be effective in the flower garden.

Thinks... It could be fun to try this using one of the musaefolias.