Gladiolus

Hybrid Gladiolus

Gladiolus x hortulanus

(GLAD-ee-oh-lus) (hor-tew-LAY-nus)

It was a pleasure to see this Glad blooming at the farm last year. When I saw it I realized I hadn’t seen a Gladiolus in many years. It brought many memories of my childhood when we grew crops of Glads on benches. Even as a little kid the colors astounded me. This flower has a little bit of that color magic. It’s funny when you get older and have been doing the same thing that things change and different tastes evolve. I did remember why I stopped growing Gladiolus, which was all the flopping over they did in the garden.

Gladiolus is a flower that has been around for a long time. The symbolism of strength and moral integrity has long been associated with the flowers. They have also symbolized infatuation, and the sword like leaves (where the plant gets its name) were suppose to pierce the heart of the recipient’s heart with passion.

Winter Gladiolus

Gladiolus priorii
(GLAD-ee-oh-lus)
Synoyms: Homoglossum priorii

This is a species of Gladiolus that is native to South Africa. I had never seen it until I took this picture at Wave Hill. It is considered easy to grow and is a winter bloomer. Gladiolus seems to have really taken a hit as far as its popularity. I always forget to get a couple for the garden and they just don’t seem as available. The staking is the part that I don’t like about growing them. It is difficult to stake them and have them look right. More often then not the flowers seem to be laying on the ground or shooting out of the plant at an odd angle.

"Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts."
Sigmund Freud

Painted Ladies

Painted Lady
Gladiolus carneus
(GLAD-ee-oh-lus) (KAR-nee-us)
Synonym: G. blandus, Bergpypie

This flower is the first Gladiolus featured in the 1,343 posts on this blog. You just don’t see these flowers as often as you used to. This species is from South Africa however it will grow outside in Zone 8 and above here in the United States. The colors are just gorgeous and at 12 to 18 inches tall it seemed refined and handsome. They can also be cultivated inside in pots.


Yellow Grape Hyacinth
Muscari macrocarpum
(mus-KAR-ee) (ma-kro-KAR-pum)

Another not too often seen bulb is Yellow Muscari, which actually starts off purple and then turns yellow. Us northern gardeners can grow this out in the garden as it rated to USDA Zone 5 (most people recommend a coat of mulch in Zone 5). There is a fragrant type called ‘Golden Fragrance’ but I am not sure if this it.