5 gladioli to grow in pots

Gladiolus nanus 'Vulcano'

Here is a very lovely variety of dwarf gladiolus, which belongs to the Nanus group (butterflies). The Gladiolus nanus ‘Vulcano’ delights us with its light flowers in a unique colour within the genus, reminiscent of butterfly wings. From June to July, before the large-flowered gladioli, they bloom in bright fuchsia pink, maculate with purplish-red on the lower petals and white on the large upper petal. The short flower spikes do not exceed 60 cm in height, allowing for a beautiful, colourful clump in a pot. With its graceful silhouette, it will add a natural touch. Relatively hardy down to -12°C, it can remain outdoors with good mulching in winter.

Gladiolus colvillei 'Nymph'

This delightful dwarf gladiolus produces in June spikes of subtly coloured flowers resembling small lilies. Each spike contains up to 6 inflorescences blooming on very slender stems. Each of these small star-shaped white flowers, measuring no more than 5 cm, is washed with a cherry pink tear shaded with pale yellow, giving it a lot of originality and elegance. Not very tall, the Gladiolus colvillei ‘Nymph’ will not exceed 50 cm in height. Charming, natural, and graceful, this miniature variety will add a romantic touch to your pots. Hardy down to -6°C, it will need protection from the cold in winter.

Gladiolus byzantinus ‘Whistling Jack’

This wild hybrid is ideal for adding lightness to your pots! The result of the cross-breeding between Gladiolus dubius (the doubtful gladiolus) and G. italicus (the harvest gladiolus), two Mediterranean gladioli, the Gladiolus byzantinus ‘Whistling Jack’ grows spontaneously in Spain and Sicily. This makes it particularly well-suited to summer drought. Less frost-sensitive than large hybrid gladioli, it can remain in the ground in most of our regions and naturalises in mild climates. Depending on the climate, it flowers in early summer or spring (it blooms earlier in the south of the country). More elegant and easier to integrate into a display, it rewards us with a delicate flowering with changing hues. Its flowers open in Tyrian rose, sometimes leaning towards red, sometimes towards violet, accented with white on the lower petals. The sturdy stems bear 8 to 15 flowers. Its small size makes it suitable for pot planting as it does not exceed 60 cm in height. It thrives in well-drained, even sandy soil and in full sun.

Gladiolus byzantinus ‘Whistling Jack’. On the right, Gladiolus italicus

The Abyssinian Gladiolus

Another gladiolus that challenges preconceived ideas and stands out from its often gaudy, even outrageous Dutch cousins! The Abyssinian Gladiolus (Gladiolus callianthus) almost makes us forget it belongs to the genus. Unlike its exuberant large cousins, it surprises with its elegance and natural charm. It easily finds its place in naturalistic compositions of a country style. It bears delightful white flowers measuring 5 cm in diameter with elongated petals reminiscent of certain botanical tulips. These discreet stars, accented with a purple heart, emit a pleasant fragrance. They bloom quite late, from August to October depending on the regions, when other gladioli enter dormancy. Extremely graceful, with its slender stems reaching a maximum height of 80 cm, it can bring life to a beautiful summer composition, surrounded for example by Gauras lindheimeri and small grasses, such as Chinese fountain grass. Not very hardy, it can withstand brief frosts of around -5°C and should be brought in before the first frosts in cold climates.

Gladiolus Primulinus ‘Bizar’

Another beautiful hybrid of modest stature as it does not exceed 60 cm in height, making it a gladiolus well suited for pot cultivation with flowers. Remarkably colourful, it displays small bicoloured flowers in white and cherry red from July to September, arranged on a very sturdy floral stem. ‘Bizar’ is part of the Primulinus group, known for its more spaced flowers on the stems. With its vivid colours, this gladiolus does not go unnoticed, sparkling under the summer sun. Pair it with perennial flax, for example. Hardy down to -12°C, it can remain in the ground during winter in most of our regions.