Gladiolus Hybrids and Primulinus Hybrids (Sword Lily)

About

Gladiolus Hybrids and Primulinus Hybrids are cultivated hybrids within the genus Gladiolus, part of the iris family Iridaceae, valued for their summer flowering. They reliably come into bloom in the UK from July to September. These hybrids are selected for differences in flower form and flowering time, making them useful for planned summer displays. Gardeners choose cultivars for height and bloom sequence to extend colour through high summer.

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 Hybrids and Primulinus Hybrids belong to the genus Gladiolus in the Iridaceae family and represent a wide range of garden-bred selections intended for summer bloom. In the UK their flowering season runs from July to September, so they are most often used to supply colour through the heart of summer. Breeding has produced forms with varied habit and bloom timing, which allows sequencing across the season. Plant them in a sunny, sheltered site with free-draining soil and good fertility so shoots can develop before flowering; avoid permanently waterlogged spots. Regular feeding through the growing season supports sustained bloom from July to September. Where winters are subject to severe frost, consider situating cultivars in containers that can be moved, or apply winter protection to the soil surface to reduce exposure to prolonged freezing. In garden composition they work well at the back of mixed borders, in long herbaceous beds and in larger containers, and many cultivars are chosen to supply stems for cutting. Selecting varieties with staggered flowering and allowing space for air movement will reduce shading between plants and help achieve a sequence of colour across the July–September period.

More in the Gladiolus genus

Browse all Gladiolus →