White Sword Lily Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus', commonly known as the White Gladiolus, is a stunning plant notable for its elegant and showy flowers. The blooms are pure white and are arranged in a striking, sword-like pattern along tall flower spikes, giving the plant its dramatic appearance. Each flower is delicately shaped, with a trumpet-like form that flares at the edges into a symmetrical and graceful outline. The White Gladiolus displays long and pointed leaves that are a rich, deep green color, providing a striking contrast against the pristine white flowers. The foliage forms a strong linear structure which complements the vertical flourish of the blossoms. As its blooms unfurl, the White Gladiolus presents a majestic and sublime display, making it a favorite for cut floral arrangements and garden displays that seek to emphasize purity, beauty, and architectural form. The plant's overall look is one of classic beauty and elegance, celebrated for its ability to bring a dignified and refreshing presence to any setting.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  White Sword Lily, White Gladioulus
- Common names
  Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The common name for Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus' is Gladiolus. Gladioli are not typically considered highly toxic to humans, but they contain substances that can cause skin irritation and mild upset stomach if ingested. Handling the plant, especially the corms, can sometimes cause skin irritation due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals. If any part of the gladiolus is ingested, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is generally advised to prevent children from eating any part of the plant. In case of significant ingestion, medical attention should be sought.
- To pets
  The common name for Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus' is Gladiolus. Gladioli are toxic to pets, particularly cats and dogs. If a pet ingests parts of a gladiolus plant, symptoms could include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. The toxicity is due to certain alkaloid substances present within the plant. In severe cases, ingestion of gladiolus corms by pets can result in an abnormal heart rate or convulsions. Pet owners should contact a veterinarian or a pet poison helpline immediately if they suspect their pet has ingested this plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  6-12 inches (15-30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  Mediterranean

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetically Pleasing: Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus', commonly known as the White Sword Lily, features attractive white flowers that can enhance the visual appeal of gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: The White Sword Lily serves as a food source for various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, promoting biodiversity.
- Cut Flower Use: Its long stems and beautiful blooms make the White Sword Lily ideal for cut flower arrangements and bouquets.
- Seasonal Color: This plant adds interest to the garden with its seasonal blooming, typically in summer, providing a fresh burst of color when many other plants are not in peak bloom.
- Versatile Planting: They can be planted in flower beds, borders, and containers, offering flexibility for garden design and space use.
- Easy to Grow: The White Sword Lily is known for being relatively easy to cultivate, needing only basic care to thrive.
- Good for Mass Planting: They are suitable for mass planting, creating impressive displays of color when planted in large numbers together.
- Gifting: Due to their beauty and associations with various meanings and symbolism, they are a popular choice for gifting on special occasions.
- Garden Structure: Tall and elegant, they can add vertical interest and structure to a garden space.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Gladiolus 'Albus' can be used as a natural dye source, providing a delicate hue to fabrics when its petals are processed correctly.
- The sturdy stems of Gladiolus 'Albus' may be creatively repurposed as natural supports for climbing plants in the garden.
- With their striking appearance, these plants are often used in art and photography subjects, providing a dramatic backdrop or focal point.
- In eco-friendly construction, dried Gladiolus 'Albus' stalks can be incorporated into homemade biodegradable plant pots or ornaments.
- Culinary enthusiasts sometimes use the petals of edible Gladiolus varieties as decorative elements in salad and dessert presentations.
- During themed events or weddings, the Gladiolus 'Albus' can be used to create elegant and biodegradable confetti.
- The Gladiolus 'Albus' can be incorporated into papermaking, contributing its fibrous content to create unique textures and imprints in handmade paper.
- These flowers can be used as a natural pest deterrent; when planted strategically in a garden setting, they may help ward off certain insects.
- The Gladiolus 'Albus' plant waste, like spent blooms and trimmings, can be composted into nutrient-rich mulch for garden use.
- By drying and pressing Gladiolus 'Albus' flowers, they can be used in the crafting of personalized bookmarks, greeting cards, or framed botanical art.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Sword Lily is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Sword Lily is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Strength of Character: Gladiolus is taken from the Latin word 'gladius' meaning sword, which symbolizes strength, strong character, and integrity.
- Infatuation: Giving someone this flower signifies being struck by love, and can also imply the strength of love.
- Remembrance: It is often used to convey remembrance, making it a common flower for funerals or to remember the loss of loved ones.
- Honor: Gladiolus also conveys honor and respect, and is often given as a sign of recognition for someone's actions or achievements.
- Perseverance and Faithfulness: The flower symbolizes perseverance, faithfulness, and dedication, indicating one’s commitment to a person or cause.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
The White Flag Iris should be watered deeply and infrequently to promote strong root growth. Ideally, water the plant once a week with about 1-1.5 inches of water, which roughly translates to 0.6-0.9 gallons for an average-sized plant. In hot or windy weather, you may need to water more frequently, while in cool or rainy periods, you may water less. It's important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry and prevent disease.
Light
The White Flag Iris thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is best placed in an area where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Morning sun with afternoon shade can help protect the flowers from intense, late-afternoon sun in hotter climates.
Temperature
The White Flag Iris prefers a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can survive minimum temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit once established but is not frost-tolerant when it first starts to grow in the spring. The ideal growing conditions are warm days and cool nights.
Pruning
The White Flag Iris does not require regular pruning but spent blooms should be deadheaded to encourage more flowering and prevent self-seeding. Cut back the foliage in the fall after it has died back naturally. Pruning in early spring or fall allows the plant to focus energy on healthy growth and blossom production.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The White Flag, commonly known as Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus', thrives in a well-draining soil mixture with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. A good soil mix can be made by combining two parts loam, one part sand or perlite, and one part peat or compost to increase fertility and drainage.
Repotting
The White Flag should be repotted every 1 to 2 years, or when it becomes root-bound. Corms should be lifted and separated after foliage dies back post-blooming.
Humidity & Misting
The White Flag prefers moderate humidity levels, but it is adaptable and does not require high humidity to thrive. Ensuring good air circulation is important for its health and vigor.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright indirect light and water when top soil is dry.
- Outdoor
  Plant corms in full sun, welldrained soil after frost risk.
- Hardiness zone
  7-10 USDA
Life cycle
The Sword Lily 'Albus' begins its life cycle when the corms are planted in the spring, after the last frost, in well-draining soil. The corms sprout, producing sword-shaped leaves and a central stem that will bear flowers. Throughout the summer, striking white flowers bloom along the stem in succession from the bottom up. After flowering, the plant goes into a period of dormancy: the leaves yellow and wither away as the plant focuses on transferring energy back to the corm for next year's growth. During dormancy, which occurs in the fall, the corms can be lifted, cleaned, and stored in a cool, dry place to overwinter. In the subsequent spring, the cycle starts anew when the corms are replanted.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- The Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus', commonly known as the white sword lily, is typically propagated through division of corms. The ideal time to propagate by dividing the corms is in the autumn, after the foliage has died back and the corms have been lifted from the ground. This method involves separating the small cormels from the base of the parent corm. Each cormel should have at least one growing point or eye. Once the corms are separated, they can be cleaned of excess soil, inspected for pests or diseases, and stored in a cool, dry place at around 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6-4.4 degrees Celsius) before replanting. In the following spring, the cormels can be replanted roughly 3-4 inches (7.6-10.2 centimeters) deep and spaced 5-6 inches (12.7-15.2 centimeters) apart in well-draining soil.