Gladiolus grandiflorus Trader Horn - Sword Lily

The large flowers of Gladiolus 'Trader Horn' are a beautiful scarlet colour with a white throat. They bloom late in sunny flower beds, extending the bouquet season in the house. Its stems are strong, stout, and covered with numerous buds. We deliver them in large size for the best flowering.

Cultivated gladioli, belonging to the Iridaceae family, are hybrids. They are divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early), and Nanus (butterflies). 'Trader Horn' belongs to the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with broad, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan shape. It forms a clump that is 80cm (32in) tall. The leaves are topped by a spike-shaped inflorescence, with funnel-shaped flowers that are 10cm (4in) long, carried by sturdy stems. They are a vibrant red with a white throat. The petal edges are slightly fringed. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales.

Gladioli and their colourful flower stalks are a symbol of the 1970s and somewhat formal floral arrangements. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets, their silhouette in gardens needs the presence of plants with lush foliage that will enhance their flowers. Combine the vibrant colours of 'Trader Horn' with those of heleniums and gaillardias, and plant them alongside annual salvias, for example. They are regulars in kitchen gardens, where they are grown for their cut flowers. For bouquets, cut the flower stalks when the first floret starts to open. Plant them at intervals of two weeks from early spring until the end of June to have flowers in the house and garden all summer long.

The gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius.