About
Gladiolus × colvillei 'Impressive' is a cormous perennial in the iris family with upright, unbranched stems and narrow, sword-shaped leaves. It develops from round, symmetrical corms wrapped in fibrous tunics. In the UK it flowers from July to September. The plant's vertical habit provides clear architectural lines in summer planting.
About the genus
Gladiolus is a genus of perennial cormous flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae).
Wikipedia contributors, "Gladiolus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Gladiolus
In the garden
Gladiolus × colvillei 'Impressive' belongs to the genus Gladiolus (family Iridaceae), a group of perennial, cormous plants whose wild relatives occur across Asia, Mediterranean Europe and Africa, with the greatest diversity centred in South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region. As a member of this genus it grows from round, symmetrical corms covered by layers of fibrous tunics and typically produces an unbranched stem bearing a sequence of narrow, longitudinally grooved leaves. Cultivation starts with the corms as the perennial storage organ; these supply the energy for the season’s upright shoots and leaves. Individual stems carry the foliage and later the summer flowers, so siting where the vertical stems can be seen without crowding brings out the plant’s form. Flowers are produced in the UK from July to September, providing mid- to late-summer interest. Use Gladiolus × colvillei 'Impressive' where an upright element is required — as a vertical accent at the rear of a summer border or among lower-growing perennials that reveal its stem and foliage. Its corm-based habit also makes it straightforward to lift or divide where borders are reworked, and its seasonal flowering concentrates colour and form in the mid-to-late summer months.
From the Fenn Plants journal
- Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
- Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
- Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.
More in the Gladiolus genus
- Gladiolus 'Nicholas' (S)
- Gladiolus 'Rose Laguna'Sword Lily
- Gladiolus byzantinuseastern gladiolus, Byzantine gladiolus, Byzantine sword-lily
- Gladiolus callianthusAbyssinian gladiolus
- Gladiolus cardinaliswaterfall gladiolus
- Gladiolus dalenii 'Boone'
- Gladiolus liliaceusSword Lily
- Gladiolus primulinus
