Gladiolus White Eyed Miss - Sword Lily

Gladiolus 'White Eyed Miss' is a variety of gladiolus known as a "dwarf" that can be grown outdoors all year round provided it is well mulched in winter. Unlike many gladioli, its bulb produces branched flower spikes, meaning it has many more flowers. These flowers are wide and salmon pink, adorned with beautiful tear-shaped white spots surrounded by red. A hybrid that has a great chance of changing the perception of detractors of this plant, often considered too rigid and artificial in appearance. It is charming and will fit well in flowerbeds and bouquets. It also makes lovely potted plants for the terrace.

The Gladiolus genus belongs to the Iridaceae family and the cultivated varieties are hybrids divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early-flowering), and Nanus (butterfly gladioli). Gladiolus 'White Eyed Miss' is classified in the horticultural group Nanus. It was bred by MG van Winsen and Zn (Netherlands) in 2017.

Gladiolus 'White Eyed Miss' is a perennial herbaceous plant with thin, dark green, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan shaped clump about 40 cm (16in) tall. Flowering occurs in June-July. From the foliage a 70-80 cm (28-32in) branched flower spike with up to 10 buds emerges. The flowers, with 6 petals and a diameter of 11 cm (4in), open wide like butterflies on thin but sturdy stems. The flowers open gradually from bottom to top, in groups of 5, and form elegant floral spikes. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales. Each corm will produce 2 or 3 floral spikes.

Gladioli with their long, colourful spikes are a symbol of the 70s and somewhat formal floral arrangements. 'White Eyed Miss' dwarf gladiolus, however, can be planted in perennial and shrub flowerbeds. It pairs well with ground cover roses in shades of mauve and white, low-growing grasses such as Stipa pennata or tenuifolia, forget-me-nots, and penstemons, for example. Its salmon pink colour is perfect with silver foliage plants (Stachys byzantina, wormwoods) or brown to purple foliage (Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'). For bouquets, cut the flower spikes when the first floret begins to open. Plant them at intervals of two weeks from early spring to late June to have flowers in the house and garden all summer long.

Gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius. Its wild forms were often depicted in jewellery or on carpets and fabrics made by pre-Christian Semitic peoples.