Gladiolus x grandiflorus Blushed look - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus or Gladiolus 'Blushed look' is a variety of imposing size, with a blend of salmon and apricot shades, lightly illuminated with white. The fluffy, curly flowers, in flamenco-style volutes, are tightly packed together. The stems are strong, stout, covered with numerous buds. As graceful as they are bright, the floral spikes create a beautiful composition in borders and enhance bouquets.

Originating from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, belonging to the Iridaceae family, the most colourful species of Gladiolus come from South Africa. Cultivated gladioli are hybrids with large flowers, divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large flowers), Primulinus, and Nanus (butterflies). 'Blushed look' is part of the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms (globose bulbs), broad sword-shaped leaves, arranged in a fan shape, forming a clump of approximately 70 cm to 1 m in height 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 on the same 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 represented in jewellery or on tapestries and fabrics made by the Semites before the Christian era.