Mardi Gras Mixture Gladiolus brings carnival-bright color to gardens across zones 3 through 10, with tall, dramatic flower spikes reaching 56 to 60 inches. These hybrid corms produce blooms in 70 to 79 days, offering a festive parade of mixed hues that make them as striking in the garden as they are in a vase. Known also as Glads, Gladioli, or Sword Lilies, this non-GMO hybrid performs as an annual in cooler zones and returns year after year as a perennial where winters are mild, giving you flexibility in how you grow it.
Full Sun
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3-10
60in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Mardi Gras Mixture delivers maximum color impact with minimal fuss. The tall, upright spikes command attention in full sun, and their deer-resistant nature means they'll persist where other flowers fall prey. Whether you're counting on these for a single season or planning for years of return blooms, they offer the reliability of a well-bred hybrid with the generous spirit of a celebratory flower.
These tall, stately flowers are grown primarily for cutting and display. The long, sturdy stems hold a dozen or more individual florets that open progressively from bottom to top, extending the bloom window for weeks. They're cherished by floral designers and home gardeners alike for creating dramatic arrangements, adding height and structure to mixed bouquets, and bringing festive, multicolored presence to any space.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Corms should be planted directly outdoors in spring after the last frost date, when soil has warmed. Plant in full sun in well-draining soil at a depth of 4 to 6 inches, spacing them 4 inches apart with 6 inches between rows.
Plant corms directly into garden soil in spring once frost danger has passed and soil is workable. Place each corm 4 to 6 inches deep and 4 inches apart.
Cut flower spikes in the early morning when the bottom florets have just opened and color is fully developed, but upper buds remain tight. This allows the remaining buds to continue opening in the vase over several days. Slice stems at an angle just above the soil line. For corms to replant next season, allow foliage to remain in place until it yellows and dies back naturally, which signals the corm has finished storing energy.
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“Gladiolus hybrids like Mardi Gras Mixture represent decades of deliberate breeding work to enhance color range, flower form, and garden performance. Named for their festive appeal, mixtures like this one emerged from hybridization programs designed to give home gardeners access to the spectacular color combinations once reserved for commercial growers and florists. By crossing diverse Gladiolus species and selecting for vigor and striking hues, breeders created varieties that bloom reliably and offer the unexpected charm of color diversity in a single planting.”