Gladiolus x grandiflorus Nori - Sword Lily

The Gladiolus or Gladiolus 'Nori' is a tall variety, ideal for middle or back of borders, or large borders. Its superb bicolour flowers, without frills, are tinted with purple-violet on the outer petals and broadly lit with white at the throat. The petals are slightly undulate. The stems are strong, stout, covered with numerous buds. As graceful as they are bright, the floral spikes also create beautiful compositions in bouquets.

Originating from Africa, Europe, 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). 'Nori' is part of the Grandiflorus group. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with corms (globose bulbs), broad sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan, forming a clump of approximately 1.10 to 1.30 m in height when flowering, depending on growing conditions. The leaves are topped by a spike inflorescence with funnel-shaped flowers, 8-9 cm wide, arranged unilaterally, almost on the same side of the floral stem. The 6 tepals (or undifferentiated petals) are slightly undulate.

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