Gladioli - the flowers of champion
Gladioli flowers symbolise remembrance, integrity, faithfulness, and character strength. These funnel-shaped flowers transcends a display of honour, victory, and intelligence. During the Victorian period, people were mesmerised with the beauty that Gladiolus flowers exhibit and believed that it can pierce someone’s heart with love. With this, these sets of flowers are also linked to the idea of love at first sight. Inspired from the latin word gladius which translates to sword, Gladioli is also known as “sword lily” due to its sabre-like appearance. Another popular name for the Gladioli flowers is “corn lily”. Gladiolus are recognized as the birth flowers for the month of August and by tradition, are the ideal 40th anniversary flowers. This kind of flowers can be found in different colour-infused blooms including red, pink, lavender, white, cream, orange, yellow, green, and purple. Curious about how it looks when beautifully arranged together? Check out our floral designs at Lush Flower Co. featuring the Gladioli flowers.
Meaning Behind The Flower Gladioli
Gladioli flowers are part of Iridaceae, the Iris family, along with its more than 300 species of flowering plants. Historically, the Gladioli flowers were used as a representation of Roman gladiators who fought in the Roman Coliseum. In Ancient Roman times, the gladiator recognized as victor of a battle, will be swamped with Gladiolus. It is believed that the name of the flower is derived from this tradition. Gladioli flowers are found in some parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East, as well as in the tropical areas of Africa. It was in the 18th century that the Gladiolus were brought from South Africa to Europe. The flowers hold a numerous meaning and aside from those mentioned above, it is also said to be associated with healing. A huge part of Gladiolus' history is focused on its medical purposes. These flowers are used by Mediterranean and British people in treating physical illnesses. It traces back from the 16th century, where the roots, seed pods, and flowers of the gladiolus plant were used as herbal remedies against colic, splinters, and physical ailments.
Season of Gladiolus
During summer into fall, usually in months of June to July, is when the Gladiolus blossom. The lower buds of Gladiolus are the first ones to start blooming followed by those in the upper part of the flower. The flowering plants of Gladioli can grow up to 2 to 5 feet in height, while their flowers can vary in size from 3 inches to 5 inches in diameter. The captivating allure of Gladioli flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. To grow Gladiolus, plant them 6 to 8 inches apart in well-drained and moderately fertile soil as they do not like it being heavy and wet. The flowers of Gladioli last up to a week, that’s why gardeners tend to plant their corms once every week or two for them to continuously showcase its bloom.