Gladiolus x grandiflorus Blue Tropic - Sword Lily

The large flowers of the gladiolus 'Blue Tropic' are adorned with a rare colour, a lavender blue nuanced with mauve, with a throat more violet. Its tall stems are filled with numerous floral buds. Stunning in summer bouquets. We deliver them to you in large calibre for the best flowering.

The gladioli belong to the Iridaceae family, with the most colourful varieties originating from South Africa. Cultivated gladioli are hybrids classified into four main horticultural groups based on flower size and habit: the Grandiflorus group, with large spectacular flowers, often used in bouquets; the Primulinus group, with slightly smaller and more elongated flowers; the Nanus group, or "butterfly gladioli," compact and perfect for borders; and the Glamini group comprising dwarf varieties for containers, with early flowering and good self-supporting habits.

The Gladiolus 'Blue Tropic' is a hybrid with large flowers selected in 2007. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows from a storage organ commonly called a "bulb". Its broad sword-shaped leaves are arranged in a fan shape. When in bloom, the plant reaches around 1 m in height under good growing conditions. The leaves are topped by a tall spike inflorescence, with funnel-shaped flowers, 10 cm long, carried on sturdy stems. They are perfectly spaced on the spike, gently touching without crowding. Their colour is a lavender blue nuanced with mauve, with slightly undulating outer petals in lighter shades, creating a subtle gradient towards a slightly more violet centre. This combination gives the flowers an elegant and soothing appearance. The storage organ is a corm, a pseudo-bulb corresponding to a swollen stem with scales. In most regions, it is necessary to lift gladiolus bulbs in autumn. They are dug up, cleaned, and left to dry in a dark, dry, frost-free, well-ventilated place (like a garage or cellar) until the following spring. In regions with very mild winters, they can remain in the ground all year round.

Plant the bulbs of this gladiolus every 15 days between May and July for staggered summer flowering.

The gladiolus 'Blue Tropic' will add height and refined colour to a perennial border or a bouquet. In a romantic setting, pair it with the slender violet spikes of the perennial sage Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'. The soft, tousled daisies of Leucanthemum 'Shapcott Ruffles' will complement well, while the silvery foliage and pale flowering of Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet' will create a bright backdrop around the flowering stems.