About
This perennial to 1m, with long grassy leaves and erect stems each bearing several scented, hooded white flowers 5cm in width, carried on arching, slender tubes and prominently blotched purple in throat.
About the genus
Gladiolus are cormous perennials with fans of sword-shaped or linear leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Native toEast Africa
FragranceFlower
ToxicityOrnamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationPlant 10 to 16cm deep on a bed of sharp sand in fertile, well-drained soil. Lift when foliage dies back, discard old corms and store new corms in a dry frost-free place until planting in the spring. In milder areas a thick dry winter mulch may suffice This plant was included in the RHS Gladiolus (gladioli) trial 2024-2025
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by separating cormlets when dormant
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to gladiolus thrip, aphids and slugs
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to gladiolus corm rot, grey moulds (Botrytis), Fusarium bulb rot, gladiolus core rot, gladiolus dry rot, gladiolus scab and neck rot, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases