Gladiolus Charming Beauty - Sword Lily

Gladiolus 'Charming Beauty' is part of a wonderful series of hybrids called 'Charm'. They are small, but early and floriferous, with charming flowers and more cold-resistant than the usual large hybrids. This one offers delicate salmon-pink flowers from June onwards, with cream accents towards the throat. Its flowering period is long, renewing itself for several weeks on secondary flower spikes. This variety easily integrates into large perennial borders or with old roses for a guaranteed romantic atmosphere.

Cultivated gladioli are hybrids, belonging to the Iridaceae family. They are divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early-flowering), and Nanus (butterflies). 'Charming Beauty' belongs to the "tubergenii" group, which is part of the Nanus group. These are small, complex hybrids with a spring-like flowering period. 'Charming Beauty' (also known as 'Warmunda'), registered in 1961, is a perennial herbaceous plant with a storage organ. It is distinguished by its modest size and cold resistance (to -10°C (14°F) under protective mulch), allowing it to overwinter in the ground in many regions. The leaves are sword-shaped, arranged in a fan-shaped clump about 30 cm (12in) tall. This foliage is topped with one or more slender spike inflorescences, 60 cm (24in) tall, with funnel-shaped, 5-6 cm (2in) diameter flowers, that are well-spaced. They consist of 6 tepals: 3 large upper petals of warm and solid pink and 3 smaller sepals with a cream-yellow base and a chartreuse green border. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales.

While gladioli and their long colourful spikes are often associated with the 70s and somewhat formal floral arrangements, "tubergenii" gladioli have a more natural appearance and blend wonderfully with other plants in the garden. Just as easy to grow as most tulips in not too harsh climates, they create stunning spots of colour in borders and beds. For a romantic atmosphere, plant 'Charming Beauty' with old roses, hardy geraniums, or shrub salvias to play with a palette of colours and add some grasses like Stipa to your border. Gladioli are often found in cottage gardens, where they accompany vegetables. For bouquets, cut the flower spikes when the first floret starts 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 gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius. Its wild forms were often represented in jewellery or on carpets and fabrics made by the Semitic people before the Christian era.