Gladiolus grandiflorus Cantate - Sword Lily

Gladiolus ‘Cantate’ is a hybrid which is valued for the height of its stems and the elegance of its colouring. With its wide bicoloured flowers — raspberry pink at the edges and white in the centre — it is undeniably impressive in the garden or in a vase. Its primary use: to add height to summer borders, or to provide remarkable cut flowers for large summer cut flower arrangements.

The Gladiolus genus, from the Iridaceae family, consists of bulbous plants (corms) originating mainly from South Africa, but also from the Mediterranean basin. Current hybrids are mostly grouped under the name Gladiolus × hortulanus. This horticultural group of 'large-flowered' gladioli (Grandiflora or large-flowered hybrids) is characterised by tall flower spikes (up to 1.5 m or more) and wide flowers fixed on one side of the spike.
The ‘Cantate’ variety is a perennial plant cultivated as a summer bulb: its corms are dug up in autumn in regions where winters are wet and cold.
It has a clump-forming habit composed of narrow, sword-shaped, green leaves, arranged in a fan at the base of the stem. In flower, this variety reaches between 1.20 and 1.50 m in height, depending on the bulb size and growing conditions. The flowers are arranged along a sturdy stem, each spike bearing a series of 10 to 12 large flowers with slightly wavy edges, about 10 cm in diameter. Their colour is a creamy white to light pink, with raspberry pink brushstrokes on the outer petals. Flowering occurs in summer, from July to August-September, depending on the planting date. The foliage is deciduous: after flowering, the leaves turn yellow and the corm enters dormancy.

To showcase Gladiolus ‘Cantate’, plant it in groups of 3 to 5 bulbs at the back of a border or a large flower bed. It pairs very well with perennials such as Shasta Daisy 'Old Court' and Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’, which accentuate the pink of the flowers. In a vase, its spikes are striking on their own or can be accompanied by white Phlox paniculata ‘David’ and Cactus Dahlia 'Striped Ambition'. You can also combine it with other gladiolus cultivars like bright pink and white ‘Priscilla’ or ‘Deep Purple’ for an elegant summer colour gradation.
For cut flower arrangements, cut the spikes as soon as the first floret begins to open. Plant gladioli every two weeks, from early spring until the end of June, to enjoy them all summer long, both at home and in the garden.

The Gladiolus genus takes its name from the Latin gladius, meaning sword; in the Netherlands, gladioli are given to walkers who complete the "Four Days Marches of Nijmegen", extending their ancient symbolism of strength and victory.