Water
Water moderately during the growing season, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering in autumn as the foliage begins to yellow and die back.
Ensure good drainage to prevent rot, especially during dormancy.
Also known as Common Sword-Lily · Corn Fflag Gladiolus · Corn Gladiolus
Italian Gladiolus (Gladiolus italicus) is an upright, herbaceous perennial wildflower native to the Mediterranean region, featuring spikes of showy pink-purple flowers.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun
100% intensity
Prefers at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for best flowering.
Moderate
50% intensity
Keep soil consistently moist during growth, reduce in dormancy.
Well-drained
50% intensity
Moderate
50% intensity
Prefers temperatures between 15-25°C during the growing season; requires a cool dormant period.
Moderate
50% intensity
Balanced liquid feed every 2-4 weeks during active growth.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
None
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water moderately during the growing season, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering in autumn as the foliage begins to yellow and die back.
Ensure good drainage to prevent rot, especially during dormancy.
Remove spent flower spikes as they fade to encourage further blooming and prevent seed formation. Cut back the foliage once it has yellowed and died back naturally in late summer or autumn.
This allows the corms to mature.
Propagate primarily through cormels (offsets) produced around the parent corm. Carefully separate these in late summer or early autumn during division. Plant them in a well-draining mix and protect from frost.
Repot corms in late summer or early autumn after the foliage has died back. This is an opportunity to divide overcrowded clumps and refresh the soil. Use a well-draining potting mix and plant corms about 10-15 cm deep.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Italian Gladiolus (Gladiolus italicus)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Asparagales |
| Family | Iridaceae |
| Genus | Gladiolus |
| Species | Gladiolus italicus |
Similar in genus Gladiolus
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
