How to Grow Gladiolus Flowers

How to Grow Gladiolus Flowers

Gladiolus goes by many names: gladiolus, gladiola, "glads," and "sword lily" (for their long, sword-like leaves). They're not lilies, but they're among the most popular home garden flowers.

Native to South American mountains, widely grown in the U.S. and Europe. Easy to grow, they're beautiful in gardens and floral arrangements.

With minimal attention, glads burst into tall spikes in July or August. Colors include a wide range and bicolors, even blue. Blossoms open from the bottom up. Harvest spikes just before top blossoms open—they'll open indoors.

Did You Know? Gladiolus grows from corms, not bulbs! See more on Bulbs, Corms and Rhizomes.

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How to Grow Gladiolus

Plant in spring. Grow in rows or bunches. They tolerate crowding but grow bigger spaced out. Prefers rich, soft soil and plenty of water. Full sun is best, but partial shade works too. A little fertilizer helps, especially in poor soil.

Once planted, glads need little attention. Mulch to retain water and suppress weeds.

Gladiolus grows 3–4 feet tall but isn't sturdy. Heavily flowered spikes bend and break easily. Protect from wind if possible. Stake spikes to avoid wind damage.

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Plant Propagation

Unlike bulbs (which produce babies below the mother), corms produce new corms on top of the mother corm. In fall, dig up corms, separate, wash, dry, and store in a cool, dry, dark place until spring.

Tip: For color-coordinated designs, sort corms by color before storing.

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