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Iridaceae
Gladiolus
Gladiolus
Strength, integrity, infatuation (from Latin 'gladius' = sword).
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Genus
- Gladiolus
- Native to
- South Africa, Mediterranean, Middle East
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- cormous perennial
- Height
- 60–180 cm
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile
- Water
- Regular
- Hardiness
- 7–10 (lift corms in colder zones)
- Lifespan
- Perennial
Did you know
- The name comes from the Latin for 'sword,' referring to the leaf shape — Romans called it 'xiphium' for the same reason.
- Gladioli were awarded to victorious gladiators in ancient Rome.
- They're the birth flower for August and the 40th wedding anniversary flower.
- A single gladiolus spike can have up to 20 flowers that open from bottom to top over 2 weeks.
- About 260 species exist, most native to sub-Saharan Africa.