Gladiolus x grandiflorus Blondy - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus 'Blondy' is a generous variety with floral buds on fairly short floral stems. Its summer flowering consists of medium-sized white flowers. They are adorned with violet anthers, a discreet ornament of great effect. As graceful as they are bright, these floral spikes harmonise perfectly with the delicate foliage of fennel, the plumes of grasses, and green blooms, creating a beautiful mass composition and enhancing bouquets.

Originally from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, belonging to the Iris family, the most colourful Gladiolus species come from South Africa. Cultivated gladioli are hybrids with large flowers, divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large flowers), Primulinus, and Nanus (butterflies). 'Blondy' is part of the Grandiflorus group, although its flowers are narrower than those of the usual large hybrids. It is a herbaceous perennial plant with corms (globose bulbs), broad sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan shape, forming a clump approximately 60 to 80 cm tall when in flower, depending on growing conditions. The leaves are topped by a spike inflorescence with funnel-shaped flowers, 8-9 cm wide, arranged unilaterally, almost all on one side of the floral stem. The 6 tepals (or undifferentiated petals) are slightly undulate.

 
The gladiolus owes its name to the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin gladius. Its wild forms were often depicted in jewellery or on tapestries and fabrics made by the Semites before the Christian era.