Are you searching for the perfect flower and getting ready for your next planned event or wedding? Sometimes there is no right or wrong flower but a matter preference as to what fits your needs or what fits your personality. The 101 series is a series of articles helping to educate everyone with the contrasts of various flowers. You may want to read the others in this series as well as many other helpful articles.
There are five things to keep in mind with gladiolus:
1. They are tall, dramatic flowers about two to three feet in height, covered with funnel-shaped blossoms just on one side of the stem that opens from the bottom to the top. The leaves are long and sword like in appearance. Fresh gladioli have a couple of open flowers at the base.
2. A miniature variety, Gladiolus orchideola has smaller and fewer flowers along at a narrow stem. The blossoms are spaced farther along the stem. Miniature varieties are more supple and graceful in appearance, and are a better choice to use in mixed arrangements.
3. An unusual type of miniature gladiolus is known as Gladiolus Tristis. It is a pale apple green and emits a sweet scent only in the evening. Tristis blooms for just a short time in the summer.
4. Older gladioli have the bottom blossoms open, showing signs of age with dry edges, fading color and softness to the touch. When purchasing gladioli, check the bloom count to make sure the lower blooms have not been pinched away.
5. Several gladioli arranged together can take an old-fashioned or a stark modern look. Gladioli arranged together best show the character of this flower.
Here are some facts about Gladiolus:
Names: Gladiolus, Sword Lily.
Varieties: Larger flowering hybrid varieties and smaller or miniature varieties. The most common of these are Gladiolus Colvillei and orchideola.
Colors: Almost every color shade is available, except for true blue. Bicolored are variegated varieties are also available.
Scent: None, except for the miniature Tristis variety.
Freshness: The bottom one or two flowers are open, with five or six buds showing good color. The tip is tightly budded and does not usually develop after cutting. The bottom flowers die as the others open.
Vase Life: 10 days or longer.
Availability: Available all year, but the predominant season is summer. The miniature varieties are only available in summer and early fall.
Cost: Inexpensive
Arranging Tip: These regal flowers can add height and drama to bouquets, but the stiffness of the flower makes it somewhat difficult to blend into a combination, and the bottom open blossoms are usually shadowed by other flowers. Gladioli are best appreciated when several are massed together.
Here are some specific varieties of Gladiolus you may like:
- Assorted
- White
- Yellow
- Pink
- Hot Pink
- Lavender
- Purple
- Green
- Orange
- Red
There are five things to keep in mind with gladiolus:
1. They are tall, dramatic flowers about two to three feet in height, covered with funnel-shaped blossoms just on one side of the stem that opens from the bottom to the top. The leaves are long and sword like in appearance. Fresh gladioli have a couple of open flowers at the base.
2. A miniature variety, Gladiolus orchideola has smaller and fewer flowers along at a narrow stem. The blossoms are spaced farther along the stem. Miniature varieties are more supple and graceful in appearance, and are a better choice to use in mixed arrangements.
3. An unusual type of miniature gladiolus is known as Gladiolus Tristis. It is a pale apple green and emits a sweet scent only in the evening. Tristis blooms for just a short time in the summer.
4. Older gladioli have the bottom blossoms open, showing signs of age with dry edges, fading color and softness to the touch. When purchasing gladioli, check the bloom count to make sure the lower blooms have not been pinched away.
5. Several gladioli arranged together can take an old-fashioned or a stark modern look. Gladioli arranged together best show the character of this flower.
Here are some facts about Gladiolus:
Names: Gladiolus, Sword Lily.
Varieties: Larger flowering hybrid varieties and smaller or miniature varieties. The most common of these are Gladiolus Colvillei and orchideola.
Colors: Almost every color shade is available, except for true blue. Bicolored are variegated varieties are also available.
Scent: None, except for the miniature Tristis variety.
Freshness: The bottom one or two flowers are open, with five or six buds showing good color. The tip is tightly budded and does not usually develop after cutting. The bottom flowers die as the others open.
Vase Life: 10 days or longer.
Availability: Available all year, but the predominant season is summer. The miniature varieties are only available in summer and early fall.
Cost: Inexpensive
Arranging Tip: These regal flowers can add height and drama to bouquets, but the stiffness of the flower makes it somewhat difficult to blend into a combination, and the bottom open blossoms are usually shadowed by other flowers. Gladioli are best appreciated when several are massed together.
Here are some specific varieties of Gladiolus you may like:
- Assorted
- White
- Yellow
- Pink
- Hot Pink
- Lavender
- Purple
- Green
- Orange
- Red
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