Habit
3268zauber · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gladiolus
Gladiolus x hortulanus Hort.
Also known as: Sword lily, Garden gladiolus
Family: Iridaceae
60 cm to 1.2 m tall
Planted in sunny beds, rich, free-draining soils
Flowering: July – September
Full sun
Not very hardy, the corm dislikes frost and must be lifted in cold climates
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The garden gladiolus grown today is a complex hybrid derived from crossing dozens of wild South African species, selected since the 19th century for the size and colour diversity of its flowers.
🍃 Leaves
Long, sword-shaped, held upright in a fan
🌸 Flowers
Large, funnel-shaped, in a wide range of colours, held in a long, upright, one-sided spike
🍎 Fruits
Small dry capsule
🪵 Bark
Herbaceous perennial clump formed from an underground corm (swollen bulb)
🗺️ Distribution
Horticultural hybrid derived from crosses of South African species; very widely grown in France
🐝 Value for pollinators
Large nectar-rich flowers, visited by bees and butterflies
✂️ Horticultural uses
Major bedding plant and cut flower, grown for its long spike of coloured flowers; corm to be lifted in winter in cold climates
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No significant toxicity known to humans; however toxic to dogs, cats and horses (especially the corm), and may cause drooling, vomiting and lethargy if eaten.
🌿 Other Iridaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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