Gladiolus Fiona - Sword Lily

Gladiolus Fiona is a small-sized Gladiolus, easy to integrate into flower beds. Its small flowers have an undeniable natural grace. Throughout the summer, it produces thin and elegant stems that are adorned with white flowers from bottom to top, which stand out beautifully against the dark green foliage. This sun-loving Gladiolus needs no staking, is perfect with plants with vibrant blooms and will also create beautiful scenes with pastel colours. Also ideal for beautiful cut flowers.

The Gladiolus genus belongs to the Iridaceae family, which includes numerous ornamental plants, such as Crocus, the sculptural Tigridia, and of course, Irises. The plant gets its scientific name from Latin, Gladiolus means "small sword", referring to the shape of its leaves. There are over 260 botanical species of Gladiolus, the majority of which originate from South Africa and tropical Africa. There are also numerous hybrids and horticultural varieties divided into three main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (small-flowered), and Nanus (butterfly).
Fiona is a variety named after the wife of Mark van Winsen, a Dutch breeder. He did not create a crossbreed, but started with a botanical species classified in 1991 under the name Gunung Gedeh, a mountain in Sumatra. This Gladiolus has been naturalised there for decades, after being introduced from Europe or Africa. While its origin is somewhat uncertain, its ornamental value is very real. Its long, narrow, dark green leaves provide a beautiful backdrop for its light-coloured flowers. In late spring, thin stems rise from the narrow clump, bearing up to ten flower buds ranging in colour from creamy white to pale yellow. From July to September, or even October, lovely flowers bloom, initially white with a yellow centre, turning completely white as they mature. The flowers have six tepals (the term encompasses the three petals and three sepals, which have a very similar appearance), with the upper tepal curiously curved upwards. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales. Each corm will produce 2 or 3 flower spikes.

This beautiful Gladiolus will blend perfectly with other plants in the same style. Place a few corms in front of the Hydrangea macrophylla Zorro, a Hydrangea with blue flat heads and black stems to create an exceptional scene. An English rose from David Austin, such as The Alnwick Rose, will also be a perfect companion. Its double cupped pink flowers irresistibly evoke the charm of old roses and will complement the whiteness of your Gladiolus. To perfect the composition, nothing beats a carpet of Saponaria Max Frei, with a multitude of small, soft pink flowers throughout the summer.