Gladiolus tubergenii Charm - Sword Lily

Gladiolus tubergenii 'Charm' is the leader of a wonderful series of small hybrids often called 'Charm'. They are floriferous and early-flowering, with delicate small flowers. These gladioli are more cold-resistant than their larger hybrid counterparts. From June, it bears small flowers in two shades of vibrant pink, animated by a beautiful white macule. Its flowering period is long, renewing itself for several weeks on secondary flower stalks. Tubergenii gladioli are rarely planted in our gardens, but they are superb in perennial beds or with old roses. Their cut flowers are perfect for vases.

Cultivated gladioli are hybrids, belonging to the Iridaceae family. They are divided into 3 major groups: Grandiflorus (large-flowered), Primulinus (early-flowering), and Nanus (butterfly). 'Charm' belongs to the "tubergenii", classified under Nanus. These are small and complex hybrids that flower in spring. 'Charm', registered in 1920, is an herbaceous perennial plant with a storage organ. It distinguishes itself on one hand by its modest size, and on the other hand by its cold resistance (-12°C (10.4°F) under protective mulch), which means it can overwinter in the ground in many regions. The sword-shaped leaves are wide and arranged in a fan. They form a tuft about 30cm (12in) high. The leaves are topped by one or more slender inflorescences, 60 to 65cm (24 to 26in) tall, with funnel-shaped flowers, 5 to 6cm (2in) long. The flowers are perfectly spaced. Each floral spike can bear up to 7 flower buds. They are composed of 6 cherry-pink tepals washed with purple-pink. The lower sepal is maculated with white at the throat. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem with scales. The vegetation dries up a few weeks after flowering, marking the gladiolus' entry into dormancy.

While gladioli and their colourful flower stalks are a symbol of the 1970s and somewhat formal floral arrangements, the "tubergenii" have a more natural look and blend beautifully with other plants in the garden. They are just as easy to grow as most tulips in mild climates, and create stunning patches of colour in beds and borders. For a romantic atmosphere, plant 'Charm' alongside old roses, euphorbias, perennial geraniums, or perennial salvias, playing with a range of colours, and add some grasses like stipa to the bed. They are regulars in cottage gardens. For bouquets, cut the flower stalks 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 long.

Gladiolus gets its name from the shape of its sword-like leaves, derived from the Latin word gladius.