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Sword Lily · Gladiolus

What is eating my gladiolus flowers?

If your flowers look streaky or deformed, you likely have a visitor. Thrips are the most common pest for sword lilies and they love to hide in the buds.

Not sure it's this? Check a photo of your plant for free

pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Examine the flower buds for tiny moving insects.
  2. Look for silvery streaks or distorted petals.
  3. Check the undersides of the leaves for colonies.

Likely causes

  1. Thrips

    Most likely

    How to tell: You will see silver or white streaks on the petals and the flowers may fail to open fully. These tiny insects are hard to see but leave clear damage behind.

    What to do: Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to treat the plant every 7 days. Focus on the buds and the undersides of the leaves where thrips hide.

  2. Aphids

    Possible

    How to tell: Small clusters of green or black insects appear on the new growth. They cause the leaves to curl and the flower spikes to look stunted.

    What to do: Spray the aphids off with a strong stream of water from your hose. If they persist, apply a mild insecticidal soap to the affected areas.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your sword lily

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

If the flower spike is severely deformed, the bloom is likely ruined for the season. Treat immediately to prevent the pests from spreading to nearby plants.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the area around your gladiolus free of weeds that can harbor pests. Inspect your plants weekly during the growing season to catch infestations early.

Sword Lily: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your sword lily and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Are these bugs harmful to me?
No, thrips and aphids are not harmful to humans or pets. They only cause damage to the plant tissue.
Can I just cut off the damaged flowers?
Yes, cutting off damaged spikes can help reduce the population of pests. Be sure to dispose of the clippings in the trash, not your compost pile.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Sword Lily

Back to the Sword Lily guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.