Give glads a second look
It’s no wonder gladioli, or glads, have been around for generations. Their long, elegant flower spikes come in nearly every color and lots of different patterns, shapes and sizes — you’ll even find a few that are fragrant. On top of all that, glads make long-lasting cut flowers.
Though they’re often called a bulb, glads technically grow from a corm, an enlarged underground stem that stores food. Because you can stagger the planting of your corms, they’re great for filling in gaps for summer color.
Click play to peruse a gallery of gorgeous glads and find out which ones are just right for your garden.
Gladiola
Gladiolus spp. and hybrid
Type Corm
Blooms Every color but black from early summer to early fall
Light Full sun
Soil Well-drained
Pests Occasional thrips
Size 24 to 72 in. tall, 10 to 12 in. wide
Cold-hardy Some as hardy as USDA zones 5 to 10
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
