Gladiolus primulinus Las Vegas - Sword Lily

Gladiolus primulinus 'Las Vegas' is unmatched in its ability to energise a bed with its vibrant colours. This modest-sized gladiolus boasts a long-lasting summer flowering, with erect spikes adorned with bicoloured flowers. The bright and luminous yellow blooms, bordered with reddish-orange, create a cheerful contrast against its darker green foliage. It is easier to integrate into a bed than the larger classic hybrids with their slightly stiff habit. It does not require staking. It grows happily in the sun, in moist but well-drained soil. It also makes beautiful potted displays to decorate a patio or balcony.

The genus Gladiolus belongs to the Iridaceae family. Gladiolus owes its name to the shape of its sword-shaped leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius. 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 (butterflies).

'Las Vegas' is a Dutch variety created in 2000 by the Van Winsen family from Warmond (north of The Hague). This highly decorative bicoloured variety can be used in many situations thanks to its compact size, reaching around 60cm (24in) in height and 20cm (8in) in width. The long and narrow medium green foliage is rather discreet, unlike the tall floral spikes. In June, the stems are covered with around ten flower buds. They open in July, from the bottom to the top of the spike, producing flowers with six tepals (the term encompasses the three petals and three sepals that have a very similar appearance), with the upper one curiously curved upwards. Bright and luminous yellow, they have a red-orange margin on the periphery, giving them a lively and joyful appearance. This dazzling flowering lasts until August-September, providing a spectacle throughout summer in the garden. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales. Each corm will produce 2 or 3 flower stalks.

Gladiolus 'Las Vegas' will find its place in borders and mixed beds. It can also be grown in containers. Its cut flowers are perfect for creating bouquets to decorate the house. To create attractive scenes, plant the corms at the base of lush foliage that will balance the brightness of the flowering spikes. Ligularia 'Dark Beauty' will contrast beautifully with its large dark leaves, and its large yellow daisies will complement the blooms of 'Las Vegas'. Cotinus coggygria 'Dusky Maiden', a purple smoke bush, will provide a colourful backdrop against which the gladiolus flowers will appear even more vibrant. To fill the border of your bed, the small perennial Potentilla 'Nuuk' will spread to form a dense carpet covered in small white flowers in summer.