Gladiolus x grandiflorus Luna - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus or Gladiolus 'Luna' is a variety with rather short floral stems, yet adorned with numerous floral buds. Its summer flowering is of a bright and uniform medium yellow. As graceful as they are luminous, these floral spikes harmonise perfectly with the delicate foliage of fennels, the plumes of grasses, and the green blooms, creating a beautiful border composition and enhancing bouquets.

Originating from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, belonging to the family Iridaceae, the most colourful species of Gladiolus come from South Africa. Cultivated gladioli are hybrids with large flowers, divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus, and Nanus (butterflies). 'Luna' belongs to the Grandiflorus group, although its flowers are narrower than those of the typical large hybrids. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms (globose bulbs), broad sword-shaped leaves arranged fanwise, forming a clump reaching approximately 50 to 75 cm in flower height, 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 represented in jewellery or on carpets and fabrics made by the Semites before the Christian era.