Gladiolus papilio
butterfly sword lily
A clump-forming perennial to 1m, with narrow, grey-green leaves. From summer to autumn, arching flower stems bear up to ten hooded flowers, flushed white and lilac-purple on the outside, with purple and yellow markings on the inside of the lower petals
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple White Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Purple White Yellow | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Gladiolus are cormous perennials with fans of sword-shaped or linear leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped flowers
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- S E South Africa
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant 10 to 16cm deep on a bed of sharp sand in fertile, well-drained soil. Lift when foliage dies back, discard old corms and store new corms in a dry frost-free place until planting in the spring. In milder areas a thick dry winter mulch may suffice
Propagation
Propagate by separating cormlets when dormant
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to gladiolus thrip, aphids and slugs
Diseases
May be susceptible to gladiolus corm rot, grey moulds (Botrytis), Fusarium bulb rot, gladiolus core rot, gladiolus dry rot, gladiolus scab and neck rot, fungal leaf spot, and virus diseases
Get involved
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