Gladiolus Black Surprise - Sword Lily

The gladiolus or Gladiolus 'Black Surprise' is one of the hybrid varieties with the darkest red flowers. Its flowers, which seem to be woven from satin, are a very dark purple-red, with rich black reflections. They emerge from magnificent black buds on a tall flower stem, visible from afar. This gladiolus's colour allows for astonishing contrasts and bold combinations in borders or bouquets, especially with pastel pink or white flowers, or next to silver foliage.

Originally from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, belonging to the Iridaceae family, the most colourful gladiolus species come from South Africa. Cultivated gladiolus are large-flowered hybrids divided into three main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus, and Nanus (butterflies). 'Black Surprise' belongs to the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms (globose bulbs) with broad sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan, forming a clump about 90 cm (35in) tall, depending on the growing conditions. The leaves are topped by a spike-like inflorescence, with funnel-shaped flowers over 12 cm (5in) in diameter, arranged unilaterally, almost on the same side of the sturdy flower stem. Here, they are particularly dark red, with slightly fringed petals. Only a tiny white signal marks the base of some petals.

Gladiolus and their long, colourful flower stems, often flashy, symbolise the 70s and somewhat formal floral arrangements. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets and gardens, their silhouette needs the presence of plants with opulent or light foliage, which will enhance their somewhat dense flowering. Plant them in groups in borders with salvias, small grasses, linear plants, monardas, cloves, and forget-me-nots to create large, colourful bouquets. They are regulars in cottage gardens, accompanying vegetables even in the vegetable patch. For bouquet making, 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 have flowers in the house and garden all summer.

 
The gladiolus owes its name to the shape of its sword-shaped leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius. Its wild forms were often represented in jewellery or on carpets and fabrics made by the Semites before the Christian era.

About botanical gladiolus:

Far from cultivated blooms but offering the advantage of living like wild plants, botanical gladiolus is an exciting alternative for gardeners: it is entirely possible to welcome them in the garden, as many of them are native to our temperate climates and yet very elegant:

The most common ones are Gladiolus byzantinus, with spring flowering in pink-purple, which naturalises. Gladiolus x colvillei shows flowers of various colors, generally marked with pink or red at the throat. Among the hardy species that naturalise is Gladiolus communis from southern Europe, with pink flowers striped or mottled with white or red. Gladiolus illyricus, widespread from southern England to the Caucasus, forms superb stems of magenta-purple flowers streaked with white. Gladiolus imbricatus bears crimson-purple flowers with a bright white spot highlighted with carmine purple.