Gladiolus
Flowers around 100 days after corms go in, so plant a new batch every 2-3 weeks through spring for a succession of blooms rather than one short burst. Flower spikes get top-heavy and need staking, especially in windy sites.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 15cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 1m
- Flowering season
- Jan, Feb, Mar
- Common diseases
- Botrytis
- Common pests
- Thrips
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: September-December. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: October-November.
Growing stages
Germination & plantingCorms planted through spring
- Plant a new batch of corms every 2-3 weeks through spring for a succession of blooms
- Space corms around 15cm apart in a full-sun spot
Establishment
- Water moderately while roots and shoots establish
- Watch for thrips on emerging foliage
Vegetative growth
- Flower spikes get top-heavy and need staking, especially in windy sites
- Thrips can damage developing buds and leaves
- Botrytis can affect foliage and flowers in damp conditions
FloweringAround 100 days from planting corms
- Stake flower spikes before they topple in wind, as they get top-heavy once in full bloom
- Watch for botrytis on blooms in damp weather
- Cut flowers for the vase as they open for the longest-lasting display
Dieback & dormancy
- Foliage yellows and dies back once flowering finishes
- Lift and store corms over winter in cold areas, replanting the following spring