Gladiolus Flowers, a member of the iris family, have florets that range from 1″ to 8″ in diameter. Gladiolus is Latin for “small sword” and refers to the shape of the leaves. African Gladioli were imported in large quantities to Europe from South Africa during the 18th century, however, some species are found in the wild in Southern and Eastern Europe. Most of the more than 10,000 named Gladioli cultivars probably were derived from just seven species native to South Africa and first brought to European gardens in the late 17th century. Some parts of Gladiolus plant are poisonous if ingested, and handling some species may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.

The Gladiolus flower signifies remembrance and expresses infatuation!

Walter Sr’s Guide to preparing freshly purchased Gladiolus: Separate the glad stems if they are in tight bunches, place loosely in 5-6” of water. Removing the uppermost bud and any spent buds along the stem will encourage the remaining buds to open and they will last longer if kept in a cool place. If you have any other plant questions you can ask Walter Sr a Question.