Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Gladiolus communis subsp. Byzantium

Other Names

Sword Lily

Family

Iridaceae

Flowering season

May to July

English distribution

It is found mainly on the Isles of Scilly and in the far

Southwest.

It is also occurs by the coast in parts of the South and

East Anglia.

See the BSBI distribution map for Whistling Jack

Habitat

It is a neophyte found in fields, hedgerows and on rough

ground.

It is a relic of the Scilly bulb fields and is extensively

naturalised throughout the Scillies, where it is called

Whistling Jacks.

It is only naturalised where there is little frost.

Description

Whistling Jack is an attractive, cormous perennial,

growing up to 80cm.

Flowers are showy and in a spike of up to 20 blooms.

Flowers are up to 5cm and funnel-shaped with 6 bright

purple -red petals.

Leaves are typically iris-like and up to 70cm.

It is difficult to distinguish from Eastern Gladiolus,

Gladiolus communis, which is more extensively

naturalised in the Southwest.