Eastern gladiolus.

At a glance

Care level

Moderate

Plant type

Perennial bulb

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 5 to 7 days

Mature size

3 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 7 to 10

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant your corms in well draining soil once the threat of frost has passed. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves which can indicate poor drainage or overwatering. Stake the tall flower spikes if you live in a windy area to prevent them from falling over.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist during the active growing season but avoid letting it sit in water.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month while the plant is actively growing.

Pruning

Cut back the foliage to the ground only after it has turned yellow and died back naturally in autumn.

Repotting

If you are growing these in containers, refresh the soil and check the corms for offsets every spring.

Soil

Well draining, sandy loam

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperature

-10 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 60%

Safety

People

The corms contain compounds that can cause irritation if eaten or handled by sensitive individuals.

Pets

This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep corms away from small children as they can be a choking hazard and are toxic if swallowed.

Contact allergens

Handling the corms or foliage may cause mild skin irritation in some people.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is generally not considered a major airborne allergen.

Edibility

This plant is not intended for consumption and may cause digestive distress if ingested.

How to identify it

• Tall, sword shaped green leaves
• Spikes of funnel shaped flowers
• Flowers bloom in shades of pink
• Grows from a rounded corm

Height

0.6 to 1m

Spread

0.15 to 0.2m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

pink, purple, magenta, 3 to 5cm

Fruit

brown, late summer

Problems to watch for

• Botrytis BlightCommon
• ThripsCommon
• Bulb RotUncommon
• Root RotUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

autumn, early spring

Plant these in groups of five or more to create a stronger visual impact in the garden.

Grows well with

• Lavender · They share similar requirements for sun and drainage.
• Salvia · The contrasting flower shapes create a nice visual display.

Similar species

• Byzantine Gladiolus · It is a closely related species with similar growth habits.

Science

Family

Iridaceae

Genus

Gladiolus

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Mediterranean region and parts of Western Asia.

Conservation

This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened in its native range.

It thrives in open, grassy habitats and rocky slopes where it benefits from seasonal moisture and well drained soil.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ornamental borders, cut flowers, naturalizing in meadows

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to dig up the corms in winter?

In zones 7 and warmer, they can often stay in the ground if mulched well.

Why are my flowers not opening?

This is often due to insufficient sunlight or extreme heat during the bud formation stage.

Where the name comes from

The name Gladiolus comes from the Latin word for sword, referring to the shape of the leaves. Communis means common or widespread.

Good to know

• It is often called the Eastern Gladiolus.
• The plant has been cultivated in European gardens since the 16th century.
• It is one of the few gladiolus species that can survive winters in milder temperate climates.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs