butterfly sword lily

Also known as: Information to be completed

A clump-forming perennial to 1m, with narrow, grey-green leaves. From summer to autumn, arching flower stems bear up to ten hooded flowers, flushed white and lilac-purple on the outside, with purple and yellow markings on the inside of the lower petals

Scientific classification

Species: butterfly sword lily (Gladiolus papilio)
Genus: Gladiolus
Family: Iridaceae

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

butterfly sword lily pictures

Distribution of butterfly sword lily

Distribution map

Southern Eastern South Africa

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 butterfly sword lily

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butterfly sword lily 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

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 suffice

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