Gladiolus x grandiflorus Cookie - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus or Gladiolus 'Cookie' is a tall variety, ideal for medium or background of flower beds, or large borders, with large flowers of 10 cm. The summer flowering displays rich blue-violet, randomly illuminated with white on some flowers. The petals are slightly undulate. The stems are strong, stout, covered with numerous buds. Graceful and luminous, the floral spikes also create beautiful bouquet compositions.

Originating from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, belonging to the family Iridaceae, 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). 'Cookie' belongs to the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms (globose bulbs), broad sword-shaped leaves, arranged fan-like, forming a clump of approximately 1.20 m in flower height, depending on growing conditions. The leaves are topped by a spike inflorescence with funnel-shaped flowers 10 cm wide, arranged unilaterally, mostly 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 depicted in jewellery or on tapestries and fabrics made by the Semites before the Christian era.