Gladiolus dalenii (Dragon’s Head Sword Lily)

A striking ornamental plant, Gladiolus dalenii (Dragon’s Head Sword Lily) is a clump-forming cormous perennial boasting up to 5 tall flower spikes bearing up to 14 intensely scarlet orange to orange-yellow or red flowers, 3-5 in. long (7-12 cm), each with a hooded upper petal and a bright yellow throat. The petals are often streaked or flecked with red. This species blooms at different times of the year depending on the location. While blooming almost every month of the year in its native habitats, it usually blooms in late summer to early fall. The blossoms rise above the foliage of narrow, gray-green leaves. Native to South Africa and tropical Africa, as far as western Arabia, Gladiolus dalenii is found in open grassland, woodland, and scrub and in rocky areas, often among rocks along streams. Although it favors moist habitats, it can also be found in dry habitats with only a short wet season. Vigorous and easy to grow, this gladiolus species is the parent of many cultivars developed in Europe in the early 1900s that have become very successful cut-flowers.

• Grows up to 24-36 in. tall and wide (60-90 cm).
• Best flowering occurs in full sun in well-drained soils. This is a summer-growing gladiolus that requires some summer irrigation.
• A good candidate for beds and borders and cottage gardens. Spectacular in cut flower arrangements.
• Keep an eye out for thrips, aphids, slugs, gray mold, and corm rot.
• Lift when the foliage dies back, discard old corms and store new corms in a dry frost-free place until planting in the spring. In milder areas, a thick dry winter mulch may be sufficient to prevent frost damage.
• Propagate by separating cormlets when dormant. Plant your corms 4-6 in. deep (10-15 cm).
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Gladiolus dalenii is native to South Africa and tropical Africa.