Gladiolus Elvive - Sword Lily

Gladiolus 'Elvive' is a variety with large flowers beautifully coloured in a lovely harmony of intermediate shades between pink and purple. Beautiful corollas open from bottom to top of its tall flowering stems with flowers which are bright lilac pink in the centre and fade to a light mauve, with the base of the petals spotted with dark purple. Surround it with light violet, white, pink, or blue flowers.  

Originally from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, belonging to the Iridaceae family, the most colourful gladiolus species come from South Africa. Cultivated gladioli are hybrids with large flowers, divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large flowers), Primulinus, and Nanus (butterflies). 'Elvive' belongs to the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms (globose bulbs) that produce wide sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan-shaped clump of about 1.10 m (4ft) tall, depending on the growing conditions. The leaves are topped by a flower spike with funnel-shaped, 8 cm (3in) wide flowers, arranged unilaterally, almost on the same side of the sturdy floral stem. They are composed of wide petals with a slightly pleated edge. 

Gladioli and their long, often somewhat ostentatious, coloured flower spikes are symbols of the 70s and slightly formal floral arrangements. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets, in gardens they need the presence of plants with lush or, conversely, light foliage, which will enhance their somewhat dense flowering. Plant them in groups in beds of salvias, grasses, monardas, wallflowers, and forget-me-nots to create large colourful compositions. They are regulars in cottage gardens, grown with vegetables. For cut flowers, cut the flower spikes when the first floret starts to open. Plant them at two-week intervals from early spring until the end of June to have flowers in the house and garden all summer long.

Gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-shaped leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius. Its wild forms were often depicted in jewellery or on tapestries and fabrics made by the Semitic people before the Christian era.