Overview of species and varieties of gladioli

Gladiolus is a herb of the Iris family. Its other name is the skewer, which more describes the appearance of the flower. Stems are single, even, with xiphoid leaf plates. Inflorescences are either one-sided or double-sided or spiral. The plant is grown mainly in the open field in flower beds and for cutting.

The species diversity of gladioli is quite large. Varieties differ in both appearance and habitat.

Under natural conditions, representatives of this species prefer swampy areas of meadows. You can meet them in the Balkans, in the northern regions of Italy and Central Europe. The plants have slender, tall shoots of 30-60 cm, on which rich purple flowers about 3 cm long are formed in summer. The buds form rare one-sided inflorescences. The leaf plates are narrow, linear, grow in the amount of 2-3 pieces, the length is up to 20 cm.

In nature, it is found in meadows and in the tides of the Mediterranean and the countries of Asia Minor. The buds are most often purple or crimson, a white stripe runs along the main vein, and may have a border of the same light. One-sided inflorescences are rather large in size, they consist of about 20 flowers. In height, the shoots reach 45-60 cm, the leaves are xiphoid. This species is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and frost resistance, prefers places with good lighting and loose soil.

The species grows in the meadows of Iran, Afghanistan and South Transcaucasia. It is characterized by a high, strong stem 35-60 cm. The inflorescences are short, consisting of 5-8 buds. They are painted in dark purple and violet tones. The flowering period falls in the spring.

The species is tall, the stem can reach 1–1.5 m. The flowering period is the beginning of summer. Light purple buds with a violet tint form a rather dense inflorescence, consisting of 6-12 flowers. They are shaped like a narrow funnel. The leaves are narrow, xiphoid.

Prefers areas with sufficient lighting, frost-resistant.

Shoots, reaching a length of 50–80 cm, are characterized by strength, although rather thin. Bell-shaped buds have different colors: from pale lilac to pinkish, there are also specimens with other shades. The inflorescence is loose, formed from 8-10 flowers.

Prefers dry meadows of Europe, also occurs in the territories from the Crimea to the Caucasus. With the onset of summer, small buds of different shades of purple appear on the stems (30–80 cm), although specimens with a white color can also be found. The inflorescence is short, one-sided, approximately 5-14 flowers. The leaf plates are linear, with weakly expressed veins, reaching a length of 30 cm. The species differs in low demand and good winter hardiness.

The hybrid species is characterized by small flowers and rather early bud formation, which begins with the beginning of spring. Shoots grow up to 90 cm.The flowers are funnel-shaped, about 5 cm long, can be painted in white, pink or bright crimson with white spots.

Belongs to early flowering species, grows up to 70–80 cm, which is why it needs a garter. The buds of the species are small, but form elegant inflorescences. The color of representatives of the species can be different.

The species is referred to as Dutch hybrids. Stems are thin, short (35–40 cm), but rather strong. The flowers have an irregular shape, the petals of the upper row are much wider than those of the lower one. The inflorescence is rather loose, the number of flowers from which it is formed is up to 10 pieces. The color of the buds is predominantly light tones, in the central part of the flower there is a dark mark in the form of a rhombus.

Dutch species with stems about 75 cm in height. The leaf plates of the plant are rather narrow in shape, the buds are medium, form loose inflorescences of small sizes. Often grown for cutting.

This species includes all hybrid varieties that bloom in summer. Its representatives have a sufficient height - 0.9–2 m. Flowers have different sizes, their parameters vary from 5 to 20 cm. The colors can also be varied: monochromatic, with several shades, or with strokes and spots on the petals. The edges of the latter can also have a different appearance: smooth, wavy, or corrugated.

The buds are collected in rather large inflorescences, sometimes consisting of more than 20 flowers. Among such varietal varieties, there are a lot of specimens of Russian selection, which, unlike the Dutch ones, have strongly corrugated edges. Hybrid varieties are distinguished by good adaptability to cultivation conditions, therefore, they are suitable for growing in different climatic zones. But for the winter, the bulbs must be dug out, since the plants are not distinguished by winter hardiness.

According to the size of the buds, gladioli are:

• miniature - less than 6.5 cm;
• small-flowered - from 6.5 to 9 cm;
• mid-flowered - from 9 to 11.5 cm;
• large-flowered - from 11.5 to 14 cm;
• giant - more than 14 cm.

• "New favorite" It is distinguished by the presence of an expressive light lilac spot on the upper petal. The edges are slightly corrugated.
• Dmitry Solunsky differs in snow-white buds with weak corrugation. The variety is notable for the fact that flowers open at the same time throughout the cola.
• "Cornet" has a light creamy shade of inflorescences. Petals with very strongly corrugated, as if jagged edges.
• "Gymnasium student" - the petals are distinguished by noticeable corrugation at the edges. On the bottom there are pink-crimson strokes.
• "Polar bear" belongs to tall varieties, can reach a height of 1.8 m. The flowers are also large, with folded petals. Their color is white with a slight greenish tinge at the neck.
• "Assol" can have both medium and large snow-white buds. The middle has a garnet tone with a pale yellow edging.
• "Rowan in the snow" differs in snow-white color with crimson stains. The flowers are very corrugated.

• "John the Warrior" has perfect red buds. The variety belongs to the late-flowering variety, so it should be planted in sunny areas.
• "Pretty Cabaret" it has a bright red color of flowers, there is a white speck in the neck. Stripes of the same color extend from it to the middle of the petals.
• "Borodino field" characterized by large, well-opened blood-red buds.
• "Scorpion" - variety with corrugated dark red buds. The lower petal is almost black in color, all have a thin white border.
• "Prince Elisha" It stands out for its strong peduncles with corrugated, spectacularly red buds.
• "The Mystery of the Night" has lush flowers with corrugated edges, which are arranged in 2 rows and form rather long inflorescences. Velvet buds are dark red (almost burgundy).
• "Evening melody" stands out with spectacular crimson inflorescences. The volume of the buds is given by strong corrugations and pintucks in the throat. The petals are bordered with a silvery stripe.
• "Piano in the bushes" it is colored in a smoky-crimson tone, the edges of the petals are folded.
• "Great temptation" has large buds of scarlet tone, which gives the variety an extraordinary showiness. The spike is quite tall, with more than 20 flowers. The petals have a pronounced corrugation and tucks.
• "Victor Borge" - medium-sized variety. The color of the buds is uniform, bright red, there is a speck of orange tone in the center. The flowering period is quite long - from July to September.
• "Oscar" It stands out with velvety, deep red buds with yellowish veins. The flower's stamens are purple.
• "Traderhorn" has bright scarlet inflorescences with white streaks.

• "Kuznetsovsky porcelain" it stands out with pale pink flowers, almost white. The buds have very corrugated edges and a bright lemon throat, which visually creates a glowing effect from the inside.
• "Muse of color" has a pretty spectacular look. The outer petals are salmon pink, while those inside are light pink with greenish folded edges. Dark lilac stamens give elegance to the variety.
• "Nevskaya exotic" does not stand out in large flowers, but this is compensated by the extraordinary type of inflorescences. The outer petals have a light pink color with snow-white corrugation, and those located inside are extremely corrugated, greenish in tone.
• "Vienna Symphony" belongs to the middle grades. The color of the corrugated flowers is pinkish-lilac, with a crimson speck at the base.
• "Edita Piekha" It is distinguished by a delicate salmon-pink tint of the throat, which acquires a greenish-golden hue towards the edges. The petals are strongly folded.
• "Margot" with a crimson tone of the top row of petals and lemon-yellow inside, it will decorate any flower bed. The lower petals have a burgundy mark.
• "Prague" has large salmon-pink buds with greenish edging.
• "Gagarin's Smile" - very high grade, up to 1.9 m. Inflorescences are peach-pink with a scarlet speck. Differs in disease resistance and rapid growth.
• "Malika" possesses multiple large flowers of a red-pink tone with crimson veins. The petals are slightly corrugated.
• "Crazy day" stands out in small buds on strong peduncles. The color is pale pink with light green edging. The petals of the lower row have a slightly lighter tone, and the inner ones are decorated with lemon-colored fringes. The buds are strongly corrugated.
• Montezuma has flowers with pink-lilac color and greenish toothed edging. The petals are strongly corrugated inside.
• "Granddaughter's eyelashes" - a new hybrid variety. Large pink buds have a beautiful smoky hue. The middle of the flower is light cream in color, and the lower petal is light yellow. A thick fringe adds extraordinary grace to the inflorescences.
• "Priscilla" it has a very delicate look. The buds are pink, with a spot of cream tone in the middle and a raspberry border. Inflorescences are characterized by density.

• "Little Red Riding Hood" possesses petals of a fawn tone, the lower of which is bright red. The buds are rather large.The variety is classified as early flowering.
• "Cherry bunch" differs in large corrugated flowers. The petals have a multi-colored color: the lateral ones have a pinkish tint at the edges, the rest have a yellow edging, the lower petal is deep burgundy.
• "Golden Antelope" - the highlight of the yellow-flowered varieties. Its representatives have a really golden color. Multiple pinches in the neck and strong corrugation give the buds a terry look.
• "Summer Carnival" characterized by a yellowish color of flowers, the petals in the lower row are decorated with somewhat blurred dark red spots. The buds are medium in size.
• "Hot Summer" - a variety of pastel shade with a slight yellow tint. The lower petals have a smudged crimson speck.
• "Contrast" has a bright yellow color of flowers, the lower petal of which has a rich burgundy spot. Closer to the bottom of the petal, it becomes crimson. The flowers do not have a special size, but they attract the eye from a distance.
• "Patrons of the Century" are distinguished by the presence of a yellow spot in the middle of the bud, towards the edges the tone becomes light green. The flowers of this variety are the most corrugated among all yellow varieties.
• "Lace bow" it is distinguished by lush, strongly corrugated flowers of a fawn tone with a weak lilac tint.
• "Golden wedding" - a new variety. The petals of the upper row are light orange, and the lower ones, closer to the edges, acquire a rich orange color and a spot of raspberry color with yellowish shading at the bottom.
• Sochi has lush embossed buds. Their colors are creamy yellow, with a salmon-colored border. The petals can vary in color from almost white to golden yellow and from creamy to delicate apricot.
• Maya Plisetskaya belongs to tall varieties. On a strong stem, two-row inflorescences of a pale-orange tone are formed with the presence of a raspberry speck on the lower petal of the flowers. The buds are highly folded and weightless.
• "Buggy" possesses a beautiful combination of white and yellow colors. The center of the bud is brighter and framed by a snow-white wavy border.

• "Glacial period" differs in rich blue petals, towards the edges the shade becomes blue. The lower petal has a large white spot.
• "Sadko" has a lilac color with a yellowish-lemon spot on the lower petal. The edges of the buds are edged with bright lilac. The flowers are large and corrugated.
• "Blue ornament" really painted in this color, each petal has a white stripe in the middle. The variety looks very impressive.
• "Kitezh Grad" characterized by corrugated inflorescences of a rich lilac color. The inner petals have a light green border, and the lower one has a green-yellow spot.
• "Splashing waterfall" - a tall variety with a light purple color, the petals of the lower row are almost white. The buds are corrugated, with tucks on the throat.
• "Gates of Paradise" Is also a fairly tall variety. Large buds have a very strong embossing. The color is monochromatic, light purple, the middle is darker.
• "Plumtart" characterized by a very beautiful coloration of a ripe plum shade. Velvety inflorescences are quite tall.

• "Radiant greens" is a typical representative of green skewers. Strongly corrugated buds have a dark light green tone and are large in size.
• "Heart of the Jungle" has a very close to green tone of inflorescences. The buds are large, with corrugation.
• "Solar riddle" It is distinguished by the lemon color of the upper petals and the light green color of the lower ones. On the latter, there is a crimson speck in the middle.
• "Green Star" with delicate greenish-yellow buds. Inflorescences are characterized by density and long flowering.

• "Owl's Eye" has inflorescences of a coffee-brown hue, the lower one has a large spot of yellowish tone with a reddish edging at the bottom.
• "Jiri Vyclavik" does not stand out in large buds, but nevertheless has a very effective color. The flowers are brown-red, with a rather wide edging of a silvery tone.
• "Vladislav Piavko" differs in gray-smoky petals in the upper row, and the lower ones have a more brown tone, on the central lower petal there is an expressive spot of crimson color.
• "Enchanting berry" it stands out for its beautiful color, which combines brown and maroon colors. The inflorescence is quite strong, with corrugated buds.
• "Shokoladnitsa" has an unusual color of petals: they are the color of cocoa with milk, and closer to the edges they become darker, each has a crimson strip in the center.
• "Great Arkhipova" with inflorescences of light brown color, with the lower petal being noticeably darker.
• "Silver Stream" has brownish buds with a silvery sheen. The throat is decorated with a light crimson spot, the stamens are white.
• "Hungarian" differs in large flowers with corrugation. The color of the buds is burgundy, with a brownish tint.

When choosing varieties for planting, it should be borne in mind that these unusually beautiful flowers are not easy to fit into a flower garden. Because of this feature, they are usually planted in separate groups. In this form, they appear in all their glory.

You can get acquainted with the varieties of gladioli in the video below.