Gladiolus Spic & Span - Sword Lily

Gladiolus 'Spic and Span' is an old variety that is still widely cultivated for cut flowers. It captivates with the soft and pure salmon pink colour of its large flowers, which bloom on tall, vertical flower spikes. Stunning and long-lasting in a vase, the majestic spikes of gladioli also bring height and elegance to perennial and annual flower beds. The flowers open in groups of 10 to 12 simultaneously, from the bottom to the top of the spike, for about 2 weeks.

Originating from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and belonging to the Iris family, the most colourful gladiolus species come from South Africa. Cultivated gladioli are hybrids with large flowers and are divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus, and Nanus (butterflies). 'Spic & Span', registered in 1955, belongs to the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms and broad sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan, forming a clump about 1m (3ft) tall, depending on the growing conditions. Flowering occurs in summer, from July to September, depending on the planting date. Solid flower spikes emerge from the soil, well above the foliage. At the top, they bear a spike-like inflorescence with funnel-shaped flowers measuring 10cm (4in) in diameter, tightly packed and distributed almost all around the stem. There are about 18 to 20 flowers, beautifully fringed along the edges and a soft coral pink with a slightly lighter throat.

Gladioli and their long, often flamboyant flower spikes are reminiscent of the 70s and somewhat formal floral arrangements. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets, in gardens their silhouette needs the presence of plants with lush or, conversely, delicate foliage to enhance their somewhat dense flowering. Plant them in groups in beds with salvias, small grasses, linear-leaved plants, baptisias, cloves, and forget-me-nots to create large colourful displays. They are commonly found in kitchen gardens. For cut flowers, cut the flower spikes 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 throughout the summer in your home and garden.

For your bouquets: pick gladioli that have opened two or three flowers, early in the morning. Leave 5 to 6 leaves per stem to allow the bulb to continue developing. Remove the first two buds at the top of the flower spike. Plant them every ten days in March/April. This way, you will have flowers all summer long.

 
The gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word "gladius." Its wild forms were often represented in jewellery or on rugs and fabrics made by the Semitic people before the Christian era.

We deliver them in large size 14+ bulbs, guaranteeing the best flowering.