Gladiolus grandiflora

The name Gladiolus grandiflora does not refer to a wild species but to the Grandiflorus hybrid group, developed from 19th-century crosses between summer-growing South African species such as Gladiolus dalenii and Gladiolus oppositiflorus. This hybrid origin explains the vigor and color range of these classic garden gladioli. The corm produces upright, sword-shaped leaves and a tall flowering spike bearing 12 to 20 large funnel-shaped flowers in a one-sided spike, in an extensive range of colors. Reaching about 90-120 cm, these plants grow best in full sun on fertile, well-drained soil, and are frost-tender, requiring winter storage.