Byzantine Gladiolus. Its two-inch flowers resemble orchids in a luscious shade of magenta, often with throats accented in white. Find Byzantine gladiolus now from Burpee in packages of This mix of dwarf bulbs, G. Hardy Dwarf Mix. Starry, orchid-like blooms measure two inches across and sport shades of pink and white, often accented by deep red. Rainbow mix is a mixture of different colored flowers from a class of especially large hybrids G. Rainbow Mix.
Mature heights of 50 to 60 inches create eye-catching vertical interest. Stake and plant behind flora of smaller stature for support and maximum visual appeal. Find Rainbow Mix now from Eden Brothers in bags of When you are shopping, look for those that are firm, with crisp husks, and no blemishes, deformity, or odor. Choose those that have been pre-treated with hot soaks and fungicides, if available.
There are, however, some pests that favor this plant, and may be the carriers of a variety of diseases. Spraying plants with organic neem oil is very effective against aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki Btk is an excellent treatment for caterpillar infestations. Most can be avoided by planting healthy corms and keeping pests under control to prevent them from spreading disease.
Choose early-blooming varieties to interplant with other organically-rich, light-soil loving flowers, such as dahlias , irises, and peonies. Later bloomers play well with yarrow and zinnias. Use the tallest varieties at the backs of beds and borders as impressive anchors. Lower profile plants in front will help to hold the long stems erect.
Even before they bloom, the sword-like tapered foliage adds texture and interest to the garden. Smaller varieties make excellent container plants for small space gardening.
And if you are interested in having armloads of flowers to cut and bring into the house, plant rows in succession from spring to midsummer. When you add gladioli to the garden, you have more than unique plants with robust blooms, and rich texture and form.
You increase the availability of nectar for pollinating bees , beneficial insects , butterflies, and hummingbirds that seem to take great pleasure in diving into the tubular blossoms. So often, our flowers hover near the ground in rounded clusters. With the infusion of height into a mixed bed, you can draw the eye upward at desired intervals for greater visual appeal and rich textural variation. Choose your favorites, and plant them in sunny locations with organically-rich, slightly acidic, well-draining soil.
Give them a great start with consistent moisture and plant in succession for blooms all season long. Do you grow gladiolus? Share your tips in the comments section below and feel free to share a picture!
See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Burpee and Eden Brothers. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Nan Schiller is a writer with deep roots in the soil of southeastern Pennsylvania.
Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. Hello Iranthie — We are pleased that you found the article informative. You are most welcome. We invite you to share plant photos for our readers to see. Hi Nan. I live in Montreal Canada and the temperature drops to minus 15 to minus 25 in winter months, January and February.
Can I leave the bulbs in the ground or pull them out in November? We recommend lifting yours. Nan, I have enjoyed your article immensely.
I have had insects in my glads for a couple of years. I am hoping to use your cleaning methods for my crowns and hope all will turn out well. Gladiolus spp. A Note of Caution This ornamental plant contains toxins that are harmful to people and pets if ingested, and it should be handled with gloves, especially by those who tend to have skin reactions to plant material. Abyssinian Also known as the peacock lily, the Abyssinian type, G.
Abyssinian Gladiolus Its two- to three-inch star-shaped white blossoms have velvety purple throats. Mature heights range from 18 to 24 inches. Byzantine The Byzantine species, G. Byzantine Gladiolus Its two-inch flowers resemble orchids in a luscious shade of magenta, often with throats accented in white. Heights range between 18 and 24 inches, and plants seldom need staking.
This species blooms in late spring and rarely sets seed. Interplant with blue irises for a dramatic contrast. Hardy Dwarf Mix This mix of dwarf bulbs, G. Hardy Dwarf Mix Starry, orchid-like blooms measure two inches across and sport shades of pink and white, often accented by deep red.
Gladiolus 'Espresso'. View Garden. While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. Read More. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes.
We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. To use the website as intended please Accept Cookies. Alphabetical Plant Listing. View or Create Collections. Choose The Right Corms Choose corms that are large, firm, and plump. The size of the corms is highly correlated to the height of the spike and the number of florets per spike.
The larger the corm, the bigger the plant and more spectacular the flowers. Smaller sizes usually require weeks longer than the larger sizes. Flower bulbs are measured in centimeters around the broadest circumference of the bulb.
The optimum size for Large and Medium Flowered Gladioli corms is cm. Small Flowered Gladioli corms have an optimum size of 8 cm. Select The Right Site Best flowering occurs in full sun in humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Gladioli adapt to a wide range of soils except clay.
Provide consistent moisture during the growing season and do not allow the soil to dry out. Lack of water may cause shorter spikes, smaller florets, and smaller corms for next season. After flowering, you may reduce watering. Planting Your Sword-Lilies Gladiolus corms can be planted from spring through early summer. They may be started indoors as early as a month before the average last frost date for earlier blooms or planted directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed.
Plant large corms in. Corms may be spaced 5 in. Sword-Lilies are often planted too far apart from one another, in which case they do not show their best.
Planting them close together will also enable them to hold each other and reduce the need for staking. Set the gladiola corm with the sprout facing up. Cover the corm with soil and water as needed.
Mulch to keep down weeds and conserve soil moisture. Plant in groups of 7 minimum for best visual impact. Sword-Lilies bloom for 2 weeks or so. To extend their colorful show, you may plant them every two weeks from the last frost date until early summer.
It typically takes weeks from planting to flowering, depending on weather conditions and variety. Planting: Plant gladiolus corms in spring 2 weeks before your last expected frost date.
To enjoy flowers all summer, plant your Glads every 2 weeks until early July. This will stagger the plantings and flowering times. You can also extend the flower season by growing early, mid and late-season Gladiolus varieties. Growth Habit: Gladiolus have narrow, sword-like leaves and tall flower stalks.
The flower stalks can grow 2 to 4 feet tall while only spreading 1 foot wide. Staking: Gladiolus flower stalks need to be staked, caged or supported so they don't flop over, or become deformed and curved due to summer storms. Soon after planting, push flower stakes into the ground or add supports around the corm. Do this early so as not to damage the flower. As soon as the flower stalk forms, tie it loosely to a stake with a soft material, or use flower rings to support it.
Remove the stakes after the flower is harvested or fades. Planting gladiolus in groups in the garden or next to tall bushy plants is another way to keep them growing upright without producing crooked flower stalks. Watering: Keep gladiolus plants well watered with at least 1 inch of water a week. This amount may have to increase during periods of drought or if you're growing in raised beds. Fertilizing: Add compost to the soil before planting gladiolus. Add an organic, water-soluble fertilizer when the plants are 10 inches tall, and again when the flowers start to show color.
They don't require trimming or pruning. The flower stalk is harvested in the morning for flower arrangements when the lower 3 blossoms on the stalks begin to open. Leave at least 4 leaves on the plant to rejuvenate the corms if you plan on saving them for next year.
In the garden, deadhead the flower stalk after the flowers fade. This will also prevent the flowers from setting seed and self sowing throughout your beds. Although these seedlings will eventually get large enough to flower, it will take years and the seedlings can become weedy. Mulching: To preserve soil moisture, mulch plants once they emerge from the soil with a 2 to 3 inchthick layer of straw or bark mulch. Gladiolus don't compete well with weeds. If the area where you'd like to plant is weedy, weed before applying the mulch.
The mulch should help with weed control as well. They aren't hardy enough to reliably survive the winter cold. Here's how:.
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