Gladiolus is a genus of approximately 180 corm-bearing species originating primarily from South Africa, with populations also found across the Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula, northwestern Africa, and eastern Africa. These plants produce some of the showiest summer garden flowers available, with sword-shaped medium green leaves arranged in upright fans and funnel-shaped flowers that bloom in an extensive range of colors along slender scapes from summer into fall. Hardy in zones 7-10, gladiolus typically grow 12-36 inches tall and 9-18 inches wide, thriving in full sun with moderate water and maintenance. They are a mainstay in the florist trade and perform exceptionally well as annual garden flowers, offering continuous color when corms are planted in succession.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-10
36in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Gladiolus flowers open from bottom to top along their stems, creating a progression of bloom that can last for weeks in a single planting. Their sword-shaped foliage and tall, elegant flower spikes bring vertical drama to any garden while remaining fragrant and exceptionally showy. The genus encompasses an extraordinary range of hybrid colors developed over centuries of breeding, making it possible to coordinate gladiolus with virtually any garden design. Beyond the garden, these flowers have become indispensable to florists worldwide, valued for their long vase life and architectural presence in arrangements.
Gladiolus excel as cut flowers, where their tall stems and progressive blooming habit provide weeks of color in a vase. They are widely grown for annual garden display, where successive plantings ensure continuous flowering throughout the growing season. Their showy, fragrant blooms also make them natural choices for borders, cutting gardens, and formal flower arrangements.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Corms may be started indoors in early spring for earlier bloom, then transplanted outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed.
Transplant corms outdoors after the last frost date in spring, or in fall in areas where winter hardiness is not a problem. Plant corms 4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in groups of at least 5-7 for best visual effect.
Plant corms directly in the ground after the last frost date in spring, or in fall in zones 7-10. Space corms 4-6 inches apart and 4 inches deep in well-drained soil.
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“The modern gladiolus we know today emerged from centuries of deliberate plant breeding beginning in the 1800s. Gladiolus × gandavensis, dating to 1837, stands as a foundational hybrid in this lineage, created from a cross between Gladiolus natalensis and Gladiolus oppositiflorus. This single cross sparked a revolution in gladiolus development, launching generations of breeders to create the diverse range of hybrid cultivars available in commerce today. The genus itself has ancient roots across three continents, but it was the hybridization work of the 19th century onward that transformed gladiolus from modest wildflowers into the towering, multicolored showstoppers that grace gardens and flower shops throughout the world.”