Gladiolus (Corn Flag or Sword Lily)
Gladiolus species (IRIDACEAE)
Planting and Growing Gladiolus
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily) in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- Season of bloom and planting time for gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- When, how deep, and where to plant gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- How to plant gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- Landscape and indoor uses of gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily)
- Comments about gladiolus (corn flag or sword lily) and its features
Growing Gladiolus
Summer corm. Deciduous. About 300 species, many hybrids. Stands 1–6 ft. (30–180 cm) tall. Narrow, swordlike, midlength to long green leaves.
Gladiolus Planting and Care Guide
Flowers
Spring, zones 7–11; summer, zones 3–6. Orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, multicolored, striped. Multiple upturned, flared, trumpet-shaped, often fragrant flowers, 1–8 in. (25–200 mm) wide, in tiers along one side of stalk. Blooms open from bottom to top.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 3–11; ground hardy, zones 7–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring–early summer in full sun, zones 3–8; year-round, zones 9–11. Space 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) apart, 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) deep.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist during growth; reduce watering after blooms fade. Fertilize until buds form. Mulch. Propagate by cormels, seed.
Lifting and Storing
Dark, 50–60°F (10–16°C), in net bag or open basket of dry peat moss.
About This Species
Good choice for beds, borders, containers in cottage, rock gardens and landscapes. Good for cutting. Deer, rodent and thrips susceptible.
Gladiolus Groupings:
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- Baby or Miniature Gladiolus
- Abyssinian Sword Lily (Gladiolus callianthus)
- Butterfly Gladiolus
- Byzantine Gladiolus (Gladiolus communis var. byzantinum)
- Primrose Hybrid Gladiolus
- Grecian Gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus)
About Gladiolus
The Gladiolus genus includes between 250 and 300 species—few in cultivation —plus many thousands of hybrids and cultivars.
All are closely related to iris and most are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Gladiolus are spring- and summer-blooming, semi-hardy or tender corms. They are easily recognized in the landscape: prior to flowering, they are tall, statuesque plants with sword-shaped, deep green leaves.
Gladiolus have spear-shaped, stiff leaves and trumpet-shaped, tubular, flaring flowers arranged vertically in spiking clusters. Their spikes appear from late spring to autumn, opening upwards along the spike.
As the most popular summer bulbs, gladiolus have a special place in every landscape garden. In addition to the large hybrid cultivars, several gladiolus groupings based on flower form and individual cultivated species exist. Most commonly available cultivars are hybrid grandiflora gladiolus.
Choose from the gladiolus groupings listed above.
Planting and Caring for Gladiolus
Plant gladiolus in beds or borders where they will be the central focus, or use them as edgings along fences, paths, or structures.
When your needs call for using them in containers, choose large pots to allow them ample soil; regardless of use, plant in locations where they will receive at least 6 hours of full sunlight each day, except in zones 10–11, where the sun should be filtered.
Gladiolus perform best in deep, well-drained, sandy soils containing ample humus. Soils should be kept moist throughout the entire time of sprouting, growth, and bud development, but the soil should be allowed to dry after their blooms fade.
In U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 3–6, plant them in spring, lift during autumn, divide, and store them for replanting.
In U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 7–11, plant gladiolus in autumn and allow them to overwinter beneath protective mulch.
Beginning in late spring, a tall, canelike flower spike emerges from the center of the plant. Over several days, the flowers open from the bottom to the top of the spike. Each spike forms an exquisite, clustered, frequently frilled cascade in a mix of blends, colors, patterns, and stripes.
When these blooms fade, deadhead the spikes. while allowing the foliage to remain until it begins to dry. Cut the foliage back to the corm and lift or mulch over them, depending on climate. Store lifted bulbs in a net bag or open basket filled with dry peat moss.
Gladiolus are treasured for cut-flower arrangements. For best results, water plants thoroughly the evening before cutting. Prune young flower stalks with partially opened blossoms using clean, sharp bypass hand shears, and immediately immerse the cut end in a bucket of cold water.
After all of the flowers have been harvested, cut their stems again under water to avoid air pockets in the cut stem.