GLADIOLI

(glad-ee-oh-lee) (plural - Gladioli; singular - Gladiolus)

Symbolizes strength of character, faithfulness and honor, also signifies remembrance.
Birth Month: August

Gladiolus (from Latin, the diminutive of gladius, a sword) is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), close "relatives" include montbretia (Crocosmia), Crocus, and Freesia. Common names include "glads" and "sword lilies", which refers to its leaves which are long, thin and pointed.

The first of the 250-300 existing gladiolus species originated in South Africa and the Mediterranean region. The flower was later brought to Europe, where it was hybridized to create today's many Gladiolus cultivars, bearing almost every color except true blue.

The impressive flower spikes of gladioli come in a wide array of beautiful colors. Long, thick stems display individual blossoms which range from 2" to 5" in diameter. Large and small, traditional and miniature.
- Traditional  large flowered Gladioli normally will feature 10-16 alternate facing funnel shaped blooms and buds mostly on one side of their 3' - 4' stems
- Miniature Gladioli feature stem lengths of less than 2' and often have ruffly petal edges and blotched colouration.

Colour Availability:

Gladioli come in a very wide range of colours. Colours available include (just to name a few):
Apricot, Burgandy, Coral, Cream, Green ( yes, even green), Lavender, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Salmon, White, and Yellow. To top it off bi-colour varieties are also available.

Availability:
Available year round generally from growers in the US & Holland and shipped around the world. A growers production will depend greatly on their location with some growers production running May through December, while other growers producing from November through May. In Canada we typically see field grown gladioli showing up in retail stores each year in August.

Care & Handling:
With proper care and handling, gladioli have a vase life of 7 to 10 days

• Cut at least 1" from stem ends with sharp knife or flower cutters.
• Place in preservative solution made with warm water (100°-110°F).
  
• Gladioli are extremely sensitive to fluoride in water, which may cause florets to not open, burning of the floret/bud sheath, darkening or yellowing of the leaf edges, or dis-colouration of petal edges.
• To enhance bud development, remove 1" - 3" from the tip of the flower spike.
• Glads are heavy drinkers, replenish preservative solution daily.
• Glads are ethylene sensitive. Keep away from all external sources of ethylene, such as fruit, carbon monoxide and decaying plant material.
• Research has shown that removing lower flowers (tipping) as they fade will reduce the upper flowers ability to open. So the best advice is to remove as little as possible.
  

• Vibrant colors provide contrast in designs.
  
• Mix with other spring flowers in arrangements or in hand-tied bouquets for a fresh, crisp, spring look.
• Glads are especially striking when arranged in a tall glass vase.
• Use as a "line" flower in arrangements.
• Traditionally used in funeral arrangements.