are gladiolus lilies?
Choose corms with diameters of 1/2 to 3/4 inches (1.25 to 2 cm) to grow flowers from 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m). Corms with diameters of 1 inch (2.5 cm) or greater grow larger flowers. 2. Store gladiolus corms in a cool, dry environment where temperatures do not fall below freezing until you are ready to plant them. Technically a corm, not a bulb, gladiolus are considered tender, which means they do not require a period of cold in order to bloom (unlike bulbs, like daffodils, which must be chilled in order to bloom). They can be planted in the spring around your last frost date. Gladiolus (from Latin, the diminutive of gladius, a sword,) is a genus of perennial cormous flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae). It is sometimes called the 'sword lily', but usually by its generic name (plural gladioli). The genus occurs in Asia, Mediterranean Europe, South Africa, and tropical Africa. Most gladiolus varieties are only winter hardy to USDA zone 7. One exception is a hardy gladiolus (Gladiolus nanus). This type of gladiolus features 20-inch tall plants on corms that are winter hardy to USDA zone 5. Although many gardeners grow gladiolus for use as cut flowers, they are also attractive planted in an annual garden with zinnias, lavatera and celosia. Plant Gladiolus. 1  1. Buy gladiola corms from a local garden center or nursery. 2  2. Store gladiolus corms in a cool, dry environment where temperatures do not fall below freezing until you are ready to plant them. 3  3. Choose a site that receives plenty of sunshine.  4. Till the soil to a depth of 12 inches (30 cm). Either way, make sure your gladiolus corms are plump, healthy, and primed to bloom. Gladiolus corms are given a number rating based on their size (#1 is large, #6 is small). Buy no smaller than #3 corms in order to have blooms this year. Most varieties of gladiolus are hardy to zone 7 and can be left in the ground over the winter in those zones. In areas colder than zone 7, they should be planted in spring after your last frost date, and they’ll need to be dug up in the fall and stored with your other tender bulbs. Plant corms 2 to 6 inches deep, depending on their size, and cover with 2 inches of soil. Space corms 5 inches apart in rows or groups of 10 to 15 corms. Once the plants are about 6 inches high, hill up the soil around the base of the plant to help support the stem. Single-Stem Supports are ideal for gladiolus. Plant Gladiolus. 1. Buy gladiola corms from a local garden center or nursery. You can buy them from mail order companies, but it's best to purchase hand-picked corms to ensure they are of the highest quality. Look for plump corms with thick centers for best the quality bloom. Gladiolus are known by a number of names: Gladiolus, gladiola, glads, and even Sword Lilly. Why Sword Lily, you might ask? It's because of their long, sword-like leaves. But, Glads are not members of the lily family. Whatever you like to call them, they are one of the more popular flowers grown in the home garden. Gladiolus are native to the mountains of South America. They are widely grown in the U.S. and Europe.
Yes, Gladiolus are known as Sword Lily because of their long, sword-like leaves.