Gladiolus Adrenaline - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus 'Adrenaline' is a new variety of large-flowered gladiolus that is particularly appealing. It comes to us from the USA. The plant produces large flowers that are slightly ruffled, coloured in soft candy pink and washed with white, enhanced by pretty spots and a more intense pink throat. They cluster on generous spikes that can be seen from afar in flower beds, from July to September. This gladiolus is perfect for creating beautiful bouquets or adding verticality to wildflower meadows.

Cultivated gladiolus, belonging to the Iris family, are hybrid plants. They are divided into three main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early-flowering), and Nanus (butterfly). 'Adrenaline', registered in 2009, belongs to the first group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with broad, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan shape, forming a clump that reaches 90-100 cm (35-39in) in height when in bloom. The leaves are topped by a dense spike inflorescence, with funnel-shaped flowers measuring 10-12 cm (4-5in) long, carried by sturdy stems. The flowers are mainly soft pink, with petals marked by a beautiful pink area at the base and a mauve-washed throat. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales. To enjoy the flowers throughout the summer, plant your corms at 15-day intervals, from March to May.

Gladioli and their long, colourful stems are reminiscent of the 70s and slightly formal floral arrangements. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets, in gardens, their silhouette appreciates the presence of plants with lush foliage to enhance their abundant yet romantically wild flowering. Plant 'Adrenaline' corms alongside sage, tobacco, bee balm, and forget-me-nots, for example. They are commonly found in cottage gardens, where they accompany vegetables all the way to the kitchen table. To make bouquets, cut the flower stems when the first floret begins to open. Plant them at intervals of two weeks from early spring until the end of June to bring flowers into the house and garden all summer.

The gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word,  gladius. Its wild forms were often represented in jewelry or on carpets and fabrics made by the Semitic people before the Christian era.