Choosing planting

7 multicoloured gladioli

Our selection for a vibrant garden

Contents

Modified the 11 January 2026 by Ingrid 6 min. Difficulty: Beginner

In the garden, gladioli are unmatched for enhancing flower beds throughout the summer with their long, spectacular flower spikes. Known for their ease of cultivation and robustness, this bulb prefers rich, well-drained, sunny soils. Available in a wide range of colours, gladiolus offers an explosion of hues to elevate your green space. Multicoloured gladioli, on the other hand, boldly combine different shades, bringing an unparalleled visual richness and a symbolism of passion.

Let yourself be charmed by our selection of seven multicoloured gladioli, true jewels of nature to perfect your garden.

Difficulty

Gladiolus 'Circus Club'

The Gladiolus ‘Circus Club’ offers a fascinating and rare aesthetic to the garden. It is a hybrid variety of gladiolus, more specifically a butterfly type, measuring 60 cm in height and tricolour. Each white flower is superbly irregularly edged with a vivid purple, and the primrose yellow centre is adorned with brown-red spots for a striking contrast. When the bulbs are planted in a spreading manner, it flowers from July to September, in rich, well-drained soil. These flower stems provide remarkable longevity, whether in a vase or in the garden. It will require mulching during winter to easily withstand cold temperatures down to -12°C.

With its original hue, Gladiolus ‘Circus Club’ will naturally find its place in a cottage garden, alongside the light blooms of a Gaura lindheimeri, Cosmos, a Verbena bonariensis, Phlox paniculata, or Agastaches. Also consider adding volume by planting some lovely ornamental grasses, such as Chinese fountain grass.

Gladiolus ‘Circus Club’

Gladiolus grandiflorus 'Tricolore'

The Gladiolus ‘Tricolore’ stands out as a gem among hybrid gladioli, with its symphony of vibrant colour. Its sturdy flower spikes, reaching up to 1.20m, are adorned with tightly packed flowers from early summer to autumn. Each elegant flower is composed of silky petals, scarlet red fading to crimson, arranged around an intense violet throat and white stamens. This gladiolus, with its vibrant colouring, transforms your garden into a natural spectacle. To prolong this colourful display, stagger plantings every 15 days from April. This beautiful hybrid variety thrives fully in bright sunlight and prefers rich, fertile, well-drained soil. Its medium hardiness allows it to withstand cold down to -9°C in winter.

In borders, as well as in cut flower arrangements, pair its fiery intensity with softer shades, such as the white flowers of Phlox paniculata ‘David’ or a Cosmos ‘Sensation Purity’. In the garden, also consider beautiful green foliage such as that of lady’s mantle or fennel.

Gladiolus ‘Tricolore’

Gladiolus 'Bizar'

The Gladiolus ‘Bizar’ has a very unique name, likely a nod to the vibrant colour of its bicoloured flowers, which are white beautifully maculated with cherry red, resembling brush strokes. They bloom on short floral stems, 60 cm tall, that require no staking and are perfect for enhancing borders or for growing in flowering pots. The vividness of its hues allows this gladiolus to shine in its own right throughout the summer, from July to September depending on the regions. To thrive, it prefers to be planted in full sun, in rich, well-drained, even sandy soil. A bit more hardy than its counterparts, it can withstand cold down to -12°C once well established.

To create a harmonious display, pair it with flowers in red, white, or green, such as penstemons, phlox, or surround it with lush foliage, for example, alchemilla or small grasses.

Gladiolus Primulinus ‘Bizar’

Gladiolus 'Adrienne'

The Gladiolus ‘Adrienne’ is a stunning bicolour variety with compact, sturdy stems reaching 60 cm in height. Particularly suited for pot cultivation, this gladiolus showcases graceful flowers in shades of white and fuchsia pink that will captivate everyone. Their summer brilliance brings a unique vitality to your garden, borders, and terrace from July to September. Like all hybrid gladioli, it prefers rich, fertile, well-drained soil and enjoys a sunny position. If well mulched during winter, it can withstand frosts down to -12°C without a hitch.

This variety of gladiolus harmoniously pairs with flowers in pink tones, whether dark, vibrant, or pastel, such as sages, monardas, hardy geraniums, or the delicate flowering of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Cherry Brandy’. Its fuchsia hues also contrast beautifully with the white flowers of Japanese Anemones and the silver foliage of Stachys byzantina.

Gladiolus Primulinus ‘Adrienne’

The Gladiolus 'Flevo Laguna'

Both captivating and flamboyant, the Gladiolus ‘Flevo Laguna’ is a dwarf variety, with flower spikes reaching 60 cm in height. From July to September, it showcases small flowers in a chartreuse hue framed by striking purple-red. Requiring no staking, it is perfect for borders, beds, and looks spectacular in pots. Well-suited to small spaces, it also allows for the creation of modern, stylised bouquets when paired with ornamental grasses for a graphic touch. Easy to grow, it prefers to be planted in full sun, in rich, fertile, well-drained, or even sandy soil. Once well-established and with good mulching, it can withstand winter cold down to -12°C.

The vibrancy of its colour will perfectly suit an exotic garden, alongside bulbs of Crocosmias, Kniphofia, or the surprising flowering of Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’.

Gladiolus ‘Flevo Laguna’

Gladiolus 'Princess Margaret Rose'

The Gladiolus ‘Princess Margaret Rose’ is a hybrid gladiolus notable for its large, vibrant flowers, yellow with red edges and a salmon pink centre. These distinctly frilled petals bloom on sturdy, compact stems, making it perfect as a cut flower. This variety with numerous buds grows up to 80 cm tall where each funnel-shaped flower measures up to 10 cm in diameter. This gladiolus thrives in sandy, rich, well-drained soils and flourishes in direct sunlight from July to September. Its average hardiness means it can withstand light frosts down to -6°C.

To enhance the romantic allure of the ‘Princess Margaret Rose’ gladiolus, pair it with plants featuring lush foliage. For example, in a border, alongside an Eremurus robustus with salmon pink spike flowers, sages, loosestrifes, monardas, wallflowers, or even forget-me-nots for vibrant compositions.

Gladiolus ‘Princess Margaret’

The gladiolus 'Zizanie'

The Gladiolus ‘Zizanie’ is a stunning variety that proudly displays bicoloured flowers in bright red and white, creating a bold spectacle. Each white flower, with slightly undulating petals, features random and unique red stripes. This gladiolus stands out in any garden, reaching a height of 90 cm and flowering from July to September. Its charm is enhanced when presented in a vase. For beautiful flowering, provide these gladioli with rich, fertile, well-drained soil, ideally sandy, all in full sun. A bit tender, this gladiolus can withstand winter cold down to -6°C.

To create perfect harmony, pair Gladiolus ‘Zizanie’ with plants that have lush foliage, whether bright green, silver, or purple. To allow this gladiolus to shine while highlighting its surroundings, plant it alongside white or red sage, a Monarda ‘Scarlet’, wallflowers, and forget-me-nots.