
Planting, Growing, and Caring for Gladiolus
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Gladioli come in a variety of sizes and colors, with the most popular being part of the following hybrid groups:
- Grandiflora Hybrids: These are the classic gladioli that produce a plentiful amount of large (5- to 6-inch) blooms in a range of colors. The plants produce flower stalks that reach up to 4 feet in height and are winter hardy to Zone 7.
- Dwarf Grandiflora Hybrids: These miniature glads are an excellent choice for containers and cutting gardens, as their flowers are about half the size of Grandifloras, and their shorter stalks don’t typically require staking. They are also winter hardy to Zone 7. Glamini gladioli are included in this group; they are pest-resistant and will bloom in full sun or partial shade.
- Nanus Hybrids: Hardy to Zone 5, these smaller gladioli look a lot like Grandifloras, but do not produce as many flowers. They tend to grow no larger than about 2 feet in height, which makes them perfect for containers or small spaces.
Some specific gladiolus varieties of note include:
- ‘Black Star,’ which has deep purple-red blooms
- ‘Candyman,’ for its beautiful, deep pink flowers
- ‘Costa,’ which sports ruffled flowers in blue-purple
- ‘Dream’s End,’ which makes a good background plant because its flower spike is up to 3 feet tall (and it has pretty light orange flowers with large yellow centers)
- ‘Fun Time,’ which has yellow flowers edged with red
- ‘Green Time,’ for its unusual lime-green flowers
- ‘Prins Claus,’ which has white flowers with splashes of pink on its petals
- ‘Priscilla,’ which produces off-white flowers with a yellow center and a pink edge
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Years ago I planted several colors and they were beautiful, but now they have all turned white. None are colored, what is going on?
I have a difficult problem that up until now, no-one seems to know answer. My grandfather used to grow what looked like common/typical gladioli. They were in the typical colors of yellow, pink, red etc. I remember him telling me that they were NOT real gladioli but had a different name - although to the uninitiated they were typical gladioli. Any ideas of what they may have been? I haven't heard the name for 40 years so I hope you may be able to help to jog my memory? Thanks!
Was it Delphinium (aka Larkspur)? I know I used to mix up the two...
Hello, I did a little research as I used to work in a nursery & this question rang a bell. Unfortunately at the moment I can't think what the name of the flower is that we sold which looked like a small gladioli. I've found a small article which I've taken a part of & attached below. Good luck remembering, cheers, Shiree. Most of these hybrids are long gone, however more recent hybrids have been produced including the so-called Homoglads; a cross between Homoglossum watsonius (recently reclassified as Gladiolus watsonius) and Gladiolus tristis. Based on descriptions of some of these older hybrids, there is great potential for producing useful garden plants from these species.
Stupid me....I planted my first gladiolus much too close to each other in pot....they are already stemmed up by 2 feet in their foliage....Can I replant them in another pot separating them properly? I live within 2 miles of gulf coast in east Texas...please help! Thank you.
Hello. I have planted about a dozen new corms every Spring for three years without digging them up (PeeDee of SC)... just covered the ground with a few inches of pine straw that I raked up from the trees in the yard. Now that I decided to dig, I have 100's !!! of little baby corms.
Here's the question... This last Spring I cross pollinated (by hand) a white glad with salmon-pink glad. Also, I cross pollinated a white with a dark (almost black) purple. What color flowers will the seeds grow to have? Thanks!
Baby corms or cormels are offshoots of the mother corm and produce clones of the mother plant. To create new cultivars and colors, you must collect seed from the seed pods remaining after the flowers have withered away. Read more at http://www.gladworld.org/Chapter%20Eleven.pdf
I would like to grow gladiolus for my daughters wedding on Sept 3rd 2016. Is it possible to have them this late in the summer? If so, when should have plant the bulbs to ensure that that will be in bloom for the wedding?
Thank You
John J.
Hi John,It takes about 90 to 100 days from planting the bulbs to bloom. Glads grow best in warm weather so depending on where you live you may want to grow some in containers so that you can make sure that they get the best growing conditions as possible.
Hello. My Gladiolus were a Mothers Day gift from my boyfriend this year. I've had them from bulbs, and have 75 of them..They have boomed but im wondering if I just cut the stalk the flowers grow on or all the leaves as well?