The gladioli’s tall, bold blooms command attention whether they are outside in your garden, along the sidewalk leading up to your home, or inside in a vase. But the symbolism behind these wondrous flowers truly takes the cake. The gladiolus flower typically symbolizes honor and remembrance, but it has many other meanings too such as:
Glads are also commonly referred to as sword flowers or sword lilies due to the sword-like shape of both the foliage and the spikes of the flowers themselves. Legend has it, the spikiness of the flower was meant to pierce the heart of its recipient with love.
Hmm… a little romantic, a little violent, we love it.
The glad’s ancient name,xiphiumfrom the Greek wordxiphos, meaning sword, ties this together quite nicely. Its name was later changed to gladiolus.
So we clearly have a recurring theme of swords. So let’s run with that, shall we?
Gladioli were considered the flower of the gladiators (told you, still on track with our sword narrative). They were used in grand floral displays and were a favorite in gardens, just as they are today!
The gladiolus tends to be considered more of an old fashioned flower. Early American women used them to create a wall of color alongside the back edges of their gardens. They were also commonly planted against fences or up against the walls of the home, as they require a bit of support to uphold these tall, heavy blooms.[1]
The gladiolus is the birth flower of August (along with the poppy!) and makes the perfect August birthday gift.
While glads don’t technically have their own meaning aligning with the specific colors of the blooms, they are often aligned with the meanings of the traditional colors they come in!
Some compare the scent of these beauties to that of a rose.
Gladioli are a classic perennial that are known all over the world for their tall, spiky blooms and vibrant colors.
If you’re looking to grow some of your gladiolas in the garden, you’ve come to the right place!
Glads come in a multitude of colors and range in size anywhere from 2 and 5 feet in height.
The blooms themselves also range in size – the smaller or “miniature” varieties less than 3 inches in diameter to the larger “giant” varieties greater than 5 inches in diameter.
If you’re looking to grow the taller varieties, they will need to be stalked, as their height and heavy blooms have trouble holding themselves up on their own. Glads are often planted towards the back of a garden to provide a colorful backdrop for the shorter plants in your garden. But feel free to plant them wherever you’d like!
When to plant gladiolus:
To get the best possible blooms out of your new gladiolus plant, start planting your gladiolus corms in the spring.
Side-note:a gladiolus corm is a piece of specialized stem tissue that is modified to grow underground for food storage that essential fuels growth[3]
Once the dangers of frost have passed, and the soil has warmed to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re in the clear to start planting your glads!
Starting from your last frost date through to early summer, you can plant another round of corms every 10 days or so, this will result in continuous blooms all the way up to early fall!
Glads for days!!!
It usually will take between 60 and 90 days from the time you plant your glads for the corms to root, grow, and bloom (depending on the variety of course).
Where to plant:
Gladioli should be planted in full sun for best results. They prefer well-draining, moderately fertile soil. They won’t do well in thick, soggy soil.
To prepare your garden, use a garden fork or tiller to loosen up the soil. Dig your fork about 12 to 15 inches deep into the ground. After you’ve loosened up your soil, mix in a 2 to 4 inch layer of compost or manure.
Let’s get to planting!
If you’re planting glads, you’re probably looking to have big beautiful blooms, right?
Of course you are!
To ensure you get those big blooms, your heart desires, plant glad corms that are 1 and a quarter inch or larger in diameter. Set your corm in the hole around 4 inches deep with the pointed end facing up, and cover it up with soil! Space the corms 6 to 8 inches apart.
If you’re planning on using your new glads as fresh cut flowers, plant them in rows to make them easier to tend to and harvest. If you’re planting your glads amongst other flowers, plant the corms in groups of 7 or more for your best blooms!
Water your new plants thoroughly once you’ve initially planted them.
Pro tip:If you’re planting taller varieties of glads, be sure to stalk them immediately (being careful not to damage the corm).
Once you’ve planted your corms, put a 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch around your glads to keep the soil moist, and help to prevent weeds. Water your plants regularly throughout the summer, taking into consideration the amount of rain you get. If you tend to get more than 1 inch of rain a week, water your glads moderately while they’re growing to keep the soil moist.
As your glads grow, remove any dead flowers to ensure continuous blooms!
Once the flowers are completely gone, cut the stalk of your glad off at about 2 to 3 inches above the soil. Leave the plant intact so it can mature and grow corms for the next season.[4]
