Gladioli

“Glads”, as they are affectionately known, have long been the darlings of gardeners all over the world. They have beautiful, sword-like leaves and flowers that come in almost every conceivable colour. They come in  range of sizes too from tiny dwarf glads up to those that grow nearly 4 ft.

They are very attractive to hummingbirds, grow quickly, and require little care. The corms can be dug up and overwintered indoors, or they can be cultivated as annuals. Glads need fertile, well drained soil and a sunny spot. They can also be grown in containers.

They are best massed in clumps (rather than in rows) because they are prone to breaking in our windy climate. Staking also helps.We recommend planting glads beside peonies; they like the same care and the glads usually flower in August long after the peonies are done blooming.