Proud gladiolus
Gladiolus is one of our stateliest cut flowers. It is also grown with advantage in the garden. It's actually easier than you think, as long as you remember to pick up the tubers before they freeze.
Gladiolus is also sometimes called sable lily. In the Roman Empire, the gladiolus was also seen as a symbol of the gladiators. The flower belongs to the iris family and grows wild in western and central Europe, central Asia and above all in the southern parts of Africa, where most varieties are found. Gladiolus came to Europe from Africa in the 1780s. The first flowers were sold in Ghent, Holland, which is why these also came to be called "Ghent gladioli".
Gladiolus comes in a multitude of color shades
Gladiolus comes in a multitude of colors and varieties, almost every imaginable color except bright blue shades. There are also multi-colored ones with drawings in a different shade on the petals. Gladiolus is a tuberous plant that blooms here in late summer and autumn. However, it is mainly grown in warmer climates, and to some extent in greenhouses, and therefore it is possible to get hold of the flower all year round, but it appears at florists mainly in autumn.
Different variants
There are many different varieties of gladiolus, the large butterfly gladiolus can grow up to 70-120 cm high. They have smaller flowers than another variety called large-flowered. The large-flowered ones are also the largest over a meter high. But there are also mini and dwarf varieties that are smaller, around 40-90 cm.
This is how you care for your gladiolus
Gladiolus as a cut flower is very effective. They are best suited in solitary majesty, a large catch in a beautiful vase, or a single flower in a cylinder vase or several. If you take care of the flowers, they are also very durable, they can stay indoors for up to 10 days. You care for gladiolus like other cut flowers. Give the stems a fresh cut, place in cold water, preferably with nutrients, and make sure that no leaves end up under water or are at risk of doing so. Change to fresh water periodically for longer shelf life. A tip is to buy the flowers when the color of the lowermost flowers begins to show, but before they are fully bloomed. You should also pinch off wilted flowers, then all the buds have a better chance of breaking out.