Gladiolus

( glad - ee - OH - lus )

At-A-Glance Information

These impressively-flowering plants, nicknamed 'Glads', need full sun and regular waterings during their growth and blooming periods. The flowers will attract myriad pollinators to your garden, including hummingbirds and butterflies. They are prized for their colorful blooms which form on spikes. Flowers will open from the bottom to the top of the spike when they bloom. Great as part of cut flower gardens and when planted in border beds behind low, mounding plants. They can also be grown in pots with annuals around the bottoms. Take care when planting these beauties in your garden, as plant parts 

Gladiolus Species and Varietals

The genus Gladiolus is a member of the plant family Iridaceae and includes around 300 species. Gladiolus is Latin for 'small sword' which is a reference to the plant's leaf shape. They grow best in zones 4-9 and 12-24, though this can vary somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Gladiolus alatus (Painted Ladies, King Kalkoentjie, Kipkippie)
These flowers are called 'Little Turkey' in their native range in South Africa, referring to the flower's shape, which looks like a turkey's wattle. Blooms are reddish-orange and showy, reaching 10 inches tall atop flowering stalks. 

Baby Gladiolus
These plants grow well in zones 4-9, 12-24 and H1, though can be grown in zones 2b and 3 if they are a particularly hardy cultivar. This is a group of hybrids that have flaring blossoms up to three inches across in short, loose spikes. They will flower in late spring in white, pink, red and lilac, sometimes marked with contrasting colors. They can form large clumps if allowed to stay in the ground season after season.

Gladiolus communis (Eastern Gladiolus, Common Corn-Flag)
This species is native to Southern Europe and has maroon flowers that bloom in spring and summertime on spikes that are up to three feet tall. Plants reach a little over three feet tall, and are widely naturalized in frost-free locations around the world. 

Gladiolus flanaganii (Suicide Lily)
This species can be found growing on steep cliffsides in Natal, South Africa. Plants produce red flowers that bloom in summer in their native range, and go dormant shortly afterwards. The species is named for botanist Henry George Flanagan. 


​Gladiolus grandiflora Hybrids (Garden Gladiolus)
This group is very popular and widely-known, with flower spikes reaching 3-6 feet tall that bloom in late spring and summer. Flowers are up to 8 inches across and come in a wide range of colors. This group also includes 'Mini Glads' which grow up to 3-4 feet tall and hold up to 18 flowers per spike.

Gladiolus italicus (Italian Gladiolus, Field Gladiolus, Common Sword-Lily)
These perennial flowers are native to Eurasia and North Africa, and is a common weed in many areas around the globe. Flowers are held towards the top of spikes and are bright pink. 

​Gladiolus murielae (Gladiolus callianthus, Acidanthera bicolor) (Abyssinian Sword Lily, Fragrant Gladiolus)
This species is native to Africa and blooms in late summer to fall with flowers of creamy white marked with brown. Blooms are held on spikes up to 2-3 feet tall. These beautiful flowers are widely cultivated in many areas, commonly pulled from the ground each year in places where freezing winter temperatures occur.

Gladiolus orchidiflorus
These flowers grow well in clay and sandstone soils, and commonly grow in grasslands. They are native to South Africa. Individual plants reach about 2 feet tall.

Gladiolus palustris (Marsh Gladiolus, Sword Lily)
This species reaches between one and two feet tall and produces magenta to bright pink flowers. Leaves are green. This species is native to central and northwestern Europe. 

​Gladiolus primulinus and Butterfly Hybrids
This species blooms in summertime, with hood-shaped flowers in a wide variety of colors. They grow about 3-4 feet tall. The group of Butterfly Gladiolus in this species has flowers with marked throats that mimic markings on butterflies.

Gladiolus triphyllus (Three-Leaved Gladiolus)
This species is endemic to Cyprus, and produces a plant that reaches between 6 and 12 inches tall at maturity. Flowers are dark pink and white, and have a fragrance that is strongest in the late afternoon. Flowers bloom from March through May.

Gladiolus tristis (Ever-Flowering Gladiolus, Marsh Afrikaner)
This species is native to South Africa, and has naturalized in places like Australia and California. They typically reach between 1.5 and 3 feet tall and produce three leaves. Flowers are creamy yellow to white, and are fragrant.

Caring for Gladiolus

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Gladiolus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 339 - 340, Gladiolus
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