Gladiolus - Sword Lily - Corm Lily

Gladioli are attractive, perennial ornamental garden plants. They grow from symmetrical corms. Gladioli bulbs in botanical terms are referred to as corms. It is a shortened thickened section of stem seen at the base of the plant.

Gladioli flowers grow on tall tightly packed spikes. These fragrant large flower spikes have 6-8 one sided blossoms. They last for 7- 10 days, and are available in wide variety of colors. They are good for cut flowers and are used in bouquets and flower arrangements.

How to grow Gladioli:

Gladioli can be propagated by dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs. Corns can be readily purchased at your local nursery.

From corms:

1) Till and loosen the your garden soil to about 12-15 inches deep and mix in 2-4 inch layer of compost.
2) Make holes of about 4 inches deep in the soil. Set the corm in the hole with the pointed end facing up. Cover with soil and press firmly.
3) Space the corms 3-6 inches apart. Water the corms thoroughly.

From seeds:

Gladioli are easily be grown from seeds.
1) Plant the seeds an inch apart in a well drained soil that is 8-10 inches deep, filled with two thirds loam and one third leaf mold or peat moss with a good amount of sand added.
2) Cover the seeds with about 1/4 inch of soil. If the soil is kept fairly moist, the seeds sprout in a few weeks.
3) Transplant the seedlings in a fairly sunny location in the garden.

It takes about 90 days from the time gladioli are planted to root, grow and bloom.