Gladiolus

Gladioli: grand, graceful and surprisingly easy

From classic to surprising: choose your colour

Plant in stages for a long flowering period

Frequently asked questions about gladioli

• When should you plant gladioli corms?
  Plant gladiolus corms from mid-March to early June, as soon as the soil has warmed up sufficiently. By planting in several batches, two to three weeks apart, you can significantly extend the flowering period.
• When do gladioli flower?
  Gladioli flower in summer and autumn, roughly from July to November, depending on when they are planted. On average, they flower around ten to twelve weeks after planting.
• Are gladioli hardy?
  No, gladioli are sensitive to frost. Once they have finished flowering and the leaves have died back — usually in autumn — dig up the corms and store them in a dry, frost-free place until the following spring.
• How deep should you plant gladioli?
  Plant gladiolus corms at a depth of about 10 to 15 centimetres, with the tip pointing upwards. Space them about 10 to 15 centimetres apart for a lovely, full effect.
• Are gladioli suitable as cut flowers?
  Absolutely; the gladiolus is the perfect cut flower. Cut the stem when the bottom two or three flowers are just beginning to open; this gives the rest of the flowers plenty of time to open up in the vase. They’ll last for weeks.
• Are gladioli bee-friendly?
  Yes, gladioli are bee-friendly. The large, open flowers are easily accessible to bees and bumblebees, which make good use of them during the summer months.