Gladiolus primulinus Laura Jay - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus primulinus 'Laura Jay' is a variety of gladiolus of modest size, relatively hardy, with an early flowering for a gladiolus. This bulb produces well-filled spikes of small radiant flowers, offering a magnificent contrast of colours, purple-red maculated with white-cream. This hybrid can be grown in the ground all year round in our climate, with a good winter mulching. It has a good chance of changing the perception of detractors of this plant, often considered too stiff and artificial in appearance. It integrates much better than its Dutch hybrid cousins into perennial flower beds.

The genus Gladiolus belongs to the iris family, the cultivated varieties are hybrids divided into 3 main groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early) and Nanus (butterflies). 'Laura Jay' belongs to the Primulinus group, characterised by rather small and often maculated flowers, irregularly arranged on stems 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28in) tall, each bearing up to 20 florets. The upper petal of each flower has a curved helmet shape.

'Laura Jay' gladiolus is a herbaceous perennial plant, with thin, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan shape, forming a tuft 30 cm (12in) tall. The leaves are topped by a spike inflorescence that stands 70 cm (28in) above the ground, with small flowers that resemble those of certain orchids, carried by very thin, upright stems. They are composed of 6 petals: the 3 upper petals are purple-red, crossed by a white line, while the 3 lower petals are widely maculated with cream towards the throat. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales. Each corm will produce 2 or 3 flower stalks. The foliage dries up after flowering, while the plant goes dormant.

Gladiolus flowers and their long colourful spikes are a symbol of the 70s and somewhat formal floral compositions. While they are irreplaceable in bouquets, in gardens, their silhouette needs the company of plants with lush foliage that will enhance their rich and wildly romantic flowering. Plant 'Laura Jay', refined and sparkling, in grassy borders, accompanied by forget-me-nots and perennial flax for example. Play with the white of certain alstroemerias or columbines, for elegance, and add here and there the silver foliage of artemisia or Stachys lanata. Gladiolus are regulars in kitchen gardens, where they accompany vegetables all the way to the kitchen table. For bouquet making, 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 flower the house and garden all summer long. 

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