Garden Gladiolus

Gladiolus x hortulanus

flower

Garden gladiolus is the towering summer cut flower beloved for generations, sending up dramatic sword-like spikes three to five feet tall lined with large funnel-shaped flowers that open from the bottom up in nearly every color imaginable. The name comes from the Latin for sword, for the blade-shaped leaves. Grown from corms planted each spring, glads are tender and are dug and stored over winter in cold climates or simply replanted each year. Planting a few corms every couple of weeks through spring gives a steady supply of spikes for cutting all summer long.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Zinnia — A fellow heat-loving cut flower that fills the bed at a lower level while the glad spikes tower above
• Dahlia — Another tender summer cut flower with the same sun and feeding needs for a dedicated cutting garden
• Cosmos — Airy filler that softens the stiff vertical glad spikes and draws pollinators

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Thrips →

  The major gladiolus pest, streaking flowers and leaves silvery - inspect corms before planting, remove debris, and treat heavy infestations; dust stored corms to kill overwintering thrips

• Aphids →

  Rinse colonies off buds and foliage and encourage beneficial insects

• Corm rot →

  Plant only firm, healthy corms in well-drained soil, and cure dug corms well before dry winter storage

🌸 Blooms & cutting

Gladiolus is one of the great cut flowers - cut the spike in the cool morning when the lowest one to three florets have just opened and the rest still show color as tight buds, and they will continue opening up the spike in the vase for a week or more. Leave at least four leaves on the plant so the corm can rebuild for storage. Cut on a slant and stand the spikes upright in deep water, since laid-down stems curve their tips upward.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

A purely ornamental summer corm grown for its spectacular cut-flower spikes. Bees and hummingbirds visit the open funnel-shaped flowers, but glads are prized above all as a long-lasting cut flower for arrangements.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Gladiolus is mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with the highest concentration in the corm; eating it can cause drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is not a danger to handle or grow around - just keep the corms, especially those in winter storage, out of reach of pets.