The gladiolus flower is a lovely one that has sword-like leaves and colorful blooms. The name is derived from the word gladium, which is a Latin word meaning sword.
There are over 260 different species of this plant that you can find, and the majority of them originate in sub-Saharan Africa. The remainder of these species come from Eurasia.
With so many colorful varieties to choose from, there are plenty of species that you may want to consider for your home garden. I recently have done some research into the gladiolus plant, and it has dramatically enhanced my garden.
In this guide, we will explore 15 varieties so that you can add some gladiolus to your outdoor space as well.
Yellowstone
This is a flower that has bright yellow blooms that you can see starting the middle of summer. They will bloom until the first frost of the year, and they can grow in zones two to 10. A mature plant can grow to be five feet tall, and when the plant does bloom, they will easily last for a period of four weeks or more.
Abyssinian Sword Lily
This is a lovely variation of the gladiolus that grows to be up to three feet tall. The star-shaped flowers are white in color with star-shaped middles that are a deep purple. They will appear during late summer in hardiness zones seven through 10. Typically, they will grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Alaska
This beautiful plant creates perfect all white flowers that will bloom for a period of two weeks each. The Plant can grow to be four feet tall, and each spike can produce up to 12 blooms. This is a plant that grows well in zones eight to 11, and it can even attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Claudia
If you are looking for a gladiolus that has red blooms, then this is a great option to consider for your garden space. It is a great plant to use for edging because it will only grow to be two feet tall, and it can be grown in hardiness zones five through 10.
Passos
If you are looking for a plant that will stick out in your garden, then this variety has purple blooms with red centers that look quite stunning. The flower can grow to be up to four feet tall, and the edges of the blooms are a light violet color. Typically, these plants will bloom in July and August in zones three through 10.
Impressive
Grown in zones five through 10, this is one of the most unique gladiolus plants that you will find. This plant grows to be two feet in height, which makes it one of the smaller varieties of this plant. The petals are light pink, and each one has a dark interior that is also shaped like a flower petal.
Flora
This is a flower that produces deep purple blooms late in the summer of the year. The plant can grow to be five feet tall, and it will do best in hardiness zones three through 10. This plant can grow well in full sun or partial shade, and it requires well-drained soil to grow.
Green Star
If you are looking for a flower that has unusual blooms, then this is an option to consider that has light green petals that are almost lime colored. The foliage is a slightly darker green, which gives it a bit of contrast. It grows in zones seven through 10, and it can easily grow to be up to four feet tall.
Carine
I love this flower because it produces a white flower that has purple markings in the center of the trumpet-shaped bloom. The plant will do well in full to partial sun and well-drained soil, and it is one of the plants that will grow in most of the hardiness zones in the country.
Baccara
Another red gladiolus plant is the baccarat. It does best in partial shade, and it can be found in zones seven to 10. The edges of the petals have a light outline that is thin and white, which will make the petals stand out and provide some contrast against the red.
Nathalie
This is a plant that produces salmon colored blooms that will look great in any garden. The leaves are star-shaped, and each stem will hold 10 or more blooms. This plant is only about six inches in height, which makes it ideal of your garden, especially in zones four to nine. It will grow best in well-drained soil and full sun.
Charm
This plant has blooms that are a lovely soft pink with yellow centers that are near the stem of the plant. This is a variation that blooms during the summer months. It can grow to be nearly three feet tall, and it is a plant that can be found in almost every hardiness zone in the country.
Applause
This is another variation of gladiolus that has breathtaking pink blooms. These are a bright pink color with a yellow center that creates some lovely contrast in the trumpet-shaped flower. This is a plant that will do well in full sun and well-drained soil.
Elvira
This plant, which produces red and pink blooms, is a variation that can grow to be about three feet in height. It will do well in full sun and well-drained soil, and the inside of the petals will have a darker spot of pink that looks stunning. Typically, this is a plant that will thrive in zones five through 10.
Blue Moon
Found in zones three to 10, this is a variation that can grow to be at least five feet tall. It will begin blooming in late summer, and the purple and blue blooms will attract plenty of hummingbirds to your garden. This is a plant that will do well in full sun.
