Gladiolus Robinetta - Sword Lily

Gladiolus 'Robinetta' is a variety of dwarf gladiolus that stands out with its large, brightly coloured flowers in cranberry-red marked with small white traces in the throat. The slightly fragrant flowers usually bloom from July onwards, along floral stems surrounded by thin foliage gathered in a basal tuft. This hybrid is not widely planted in gardens. This hybrid is quite different from the large Dutch gladioli, which are often considered too heavy and artificial in appearance. This variety integrates well among other plants in the garden. It is more robust and will survive winters that are not too harsh.

Cultivated gladioli are hybrids, belonging to the Iridaceae family. They are divided into 3 major groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early-flowering), and Nanus (butterfly). Gladiolus colvillei is the first known hybrid in cultivation, obtained in England in 1823, by crossing G. cardinalis and G. tristis. It is characterised by rather small flowers, irregularly arranged on 40 to 45cm (16 to 18in) high stems, each bearing up to 10 florets. The lower petal of each star-shaped flower has a darker central area.

'Robinetta' is a cultivar. It received the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993 for its ease of cultivation and the beauty of its flowers. It is an herbaceous perennial plant, with thin, dark green, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan shape. It forms a 30cm (12in) tall tuft. The leaves are topped by one to three spike-shaped inflorescences measuring 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in). They each carry up to 7 buds. The flowers have 6 unequal petals, 7cm (3in) in diameter. They resemble small, pinkish-red lilies with a white spot. They are carried by slender stems. The flowers open gradually from bottom to top and form beautiful floral spikes. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem equipped with scales. Each corm will produce 2 or 3 floral spikes.

Gladioli and their long colourful flower spikes are undoubtedly emblematic of the 1970s and slightly formal floral arrangements. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets, their silhouette in gardens needs the presence of plants with lush foliage or airy blooms to enhance their flowers. 'Robinetta' fits well in beds of simple perennials or low shrubs, often without requiring staking. It pairs well with groundcover roses (The Fairy, Knock Out), small grasses (Stipa pennata or S. tenuifolia), forget-me-nots, penstemons, catmints, and diascia, for example. Play with the vibrant blue of perennial flax and the soft pink of baby's breath for brightness. Add silver foliage here and there (stachys, artemisias). For bouquets, cut the flower stalks when the first floret starts to open. Plant them at intervals of two weeks from early spring until the end of June to have flowers in the house and garden all summer long.

Gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius.