Gladiolus grandiflorus Cilesta - Sword Lily
Gladiolus grandiflorus Cilesta - Sword Lily
Gladiolus x grandiflorus Cilesta
Large-Flowered Gladiolus, Sword Lily
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Description
Gladiolus 'Cilesta' is a large-flowered gladiolus with pastel charm, blending white and soft pink with a more intense touch at the heart of each flower. Its upright flower spikes structure borders and add height to summer displays. Its generous flowering provides cut flowers with excellent vase life.
From the Iridaceae family, gladiolus is a cormous perennial native mainly to southern Africa and the Mediterranean region, now widely hybridised for the ornamental garden. 'Cilesta' belongs to the Grandiflorus horticultural group, characterised by stems often exceeding 1 m in height and large funnel-shaped flowers of 8 to 10 cm, well-aligned on the stem, perfect for cutting. The plant forms a clump of lanceolate, rigid, bright green, 40 to 60 cm long leaves arranged in a fan from the corm. The robust flower stems reach between 1 m and 1.20 m in height. The flowers are slightly ruffled on the edges, white to pinkish-white, delicately washed with bluish-pink, more purplish at the throat. The foliage is deciduous: the leaves dry at the end of the season, and the corm goes dormant. In very mild climates, the plant can behave as a short-lived perennial.
In the garden, Gladiolus 'Cilesta' can be planted in small groups in a sunny border, alongside more flexible plants that clothe its base. Choose, for example, Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose', with its feathery spikes of soft pink, or light and airy Verbena hastata 'Rosea'. To create refined colour harmonies, pair it with the soft rosy apricot of Cactus Dahlia 'Préférence' and Echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction'. In a cut flower arrangement, it combines very well with other modern gladioli like the anise green 'Green Star' for contemporary, artistic pastel displays.
For cut flower arrangements, cut the stems 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, at home and in the garden.
The name Gladiolus comes from the Latin "gladius", the sword, in reference to the foliage, and the flower has been associated with courage and victory since antiquity – the Romans adorned the winners of games with it.
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Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Gladiolus
x grandiflorus
Cilesta
Iridaceae
Large-Flowered Gladiolus, Sword Lily
Gladiolus × hortulanus ‘Cilesta’, Gladiolus x grandiflorus ‘Cilesta’
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Hybrid gladioli 'Cilesta' prefers rich, fertile, yet well-drained soils, such as loamy and sandy types. Plant in full sun, sheltered from the wind. Space the bulbs or corms 10 to 15 cm apart, covered with 10 cm of soil. Feed after cutting the flowers. Avoid using manure, which encourages bulb rot.
Gladioli are sensitive to frost. Therefore, they should be lifted once they have faded or immediately after the first frosts. Cut the leaves and allow the plants to dry in a well-ventilated spot for three weeks. Remove the old bulbs. Store the new bulbs and bulblets throughout the winter in a cool, frost-free location. The bulblets will flower in two years. It is best not to plant gladiolus bulbs in the same spot for several consecutive years. An annual rotation will yield better results.
In mild climates, Gladiolus can be planted in September-October and overwintered in place.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:
- In zones 9 to 10 (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), flowering will occur about 2 to 4 weeks earlier.
- In zones 6 to 7 (Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and lower mountainous regions), flowering will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks.
- In zone 5 (Central Europe, Scandinavia), blooming will be delayed by 3 to 5 weeks.
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
- In Mediterranean zones (Marseille, Madrid, Milan, etc.), autumn and winter are the best planting periods.
- In continental zones (Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, etc.), delay planting by 2 to 3 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 2 to 4 weeks in autumn.
- In mountainous regions (the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, etc.), it is best to plant in late spring (May-June) or late summer (August-September).
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.