Peacock Gladiolus is a fragrant, star-shaped bloomer that brings an unexpected elegance to late-summer gardens. Native to the mountain regions of East Africa, this species gladiolus grows 24 to 36 inches tall and produces showy white flowers with pointed, spreading petals and a distinctive dark center marking that inspired its common name. Hardy in zones 7 through 10, it flowers from August into September and thrives in full sun with moderate water and care. Unlike typical gladiolus hybrids, Peacock Gladiolus releases a delicate fragrance, a rarity among cut flowers that makes it as rewarding to experience up close as it is striking in the garden.
4
Full Sun
Moderate
7-10
36in H x 18in W
—
High
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The fragrance is what sets this East African native apart from its gladiolus cousins. Large star-shaped white flowers with deep burgundy or black blotches at their centers open progressively up the stem, creating weeks of bloom in late summer. In zones 7 through 10, many gardeners leave corms in the ground year-round, though digging and storing them annually produces superior flowering. The upright, sword-shaped foliage is understated and elegant, letting the fragrant blooms take center stage.
Peacock Gladiolus serves as a fragrant cut flower, valued for arrangements and floral displays where its delicate perfume and architectural form add sophistication. The progressive opening of flowers along the spike provides long-lasting visual interest in bouquets. In garden settings, it functions as a summer-to-fall performer in borders and beds, contributing vertical accent and late-season color when many other bulbs have finished blooming.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Corms may be started indoors in early spring for earlier bloom, then hardened off before transplanting to the garden after frost danger passes.
Plant corms directly in the garden in spring after the last frost date. Choose a full-sun location with well-drained, humusy soil. Space 12 to 18 inches apart. Position corms in locations protected from strong winds.
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“Peacock Gladiolus carries a complex botanical identity shaped by taxonomic revision and international plant commerce. Long known as Acidanthera bicolor and sold under that name in the nursery trade for generations, it was reclassified and renamed Gladiolus murielae as science refined its classification. This East African mountain dweller has traveled the globe in the hands of gardeners and plant collectors seeking fragrant cut flowers, becoming established in cultivation across temperate regions. The journey from its native high-altitude habitat to garden borders worldwide reflects both the plant's ornamental appeal and the historical momentum of plant exploration and trade.”