An oft-seen flower in popular gardens for generations, gladiolus – a flower once only native to Africa and Asia Minor, can now be grown in the high-altitude areas of Chintapalle in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district.
Revealing this, A. Appalaswamy Babu, assistant director of Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) in Chintapalle, said they have successfully grown the flower at their premises. "Gladiolus can now be grown in the high altitude and tribal (HAT) zone of ASR district, which is blessed with a wide diversity of agro-climatic conditions suitable for producing speciality exotic/cut flowers," Appalaswamy told this correspondent on Friday.
The flower had first been introduced in India in the 17th Century by the British. Initially, it had been grown only in hilly tracts of the country commercially. But now, it is being grown in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Gladiolus is a leading cut flower in India as well as the world. It is very much liked for its majestic spikes, which contain attractive, elegant and delicate florets. These florets open in sequence over a longer duration and hence gladiolus is popular.
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