Dalen's gladiolus

Also known as: dragon's head sword lily; maid of the mist; prim

A cormous, clump-forming perennial to 1.2m tall with narrow, grey-green leaves. Flower spikes bearing up to 14 hooded flowers each 8-12cm long are produced in summer; flower colour varies from mottled orange to orange-yellow or red with yellow throats; petals are often flecked or streaked with red

Scientific classification

Species: Dalen's gladiolus (Gladiolus dalenii)
Genus: Gladiolus
Family: Iridaceae

Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling]
Toxicity: Bulbs
Plant type: 1-1.5 metres
Height: 0.1-0.5 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Columnar upright
Habit: Spring · Summer
Season of interest: Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Dalen's gladiolus pictures

Distribution of Dalen's gladiolus

Distribution map

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling]

Quick identification of Dalen's gladiolus

Information to be completed

Dalen's gladiolus care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

No pruning required

Propagation

Propagate by separating cormlets when dormant

Growing

Grow in a sunny, sheltered position. Plant 10 to 16cm deep on a bed of sharp sand in fertile, well-drained soil. Lift when foliage dies back, discard old corms and store new corms in a dry frost-free place until planting in the spring. In milder areas a thick dry winter mulch may be sufficient to prevent frost damage

More growing and care information →

Common pests and diseases

Diseases

May be susceptible to gladiolus corm rot, grey moulds (Botrytis), Fusarium bulb rot, gladiolus core rot, gladiolus dry rot, gladiolus scab and neck rot, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases