Dwarf gladiolus Gladiolus nanus 'Charm'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

The Gladiolus nanus 'Charm', commonly known as the hardy gladiolus or dwarf gladiola, boasts a striking appearance with its sword-like foliage and elegant flower spikes. The leaves are narrow and tall, providing a vertical aspect to the plant's form, resembling the blades of a sword with their pointed tips. The foliage is bright green, creating a sharp contrast to the colorful blooms. The flowers of the Gladiolus nanus 'Charm' are the plant's most notable feature, presenting themselves in a classic funnel shape. They appear on slender spikes that rise gracefully above the foliage. Each flower spike may host several individual blossoms, arranged in a one-sided manner. The blooms come in a delicate shade of pink with subtle undertones that can range from soft lilac to a more pronounced rosy hue. Toward the center of each flower, observers are likely to notice a paler throat, often highlighted with a dash of contrasting color, such as white or yellow. The petals themselves are typically broad and slightly ruffled, contributing to the overall charm and elegance of the plant. The combination of the vibrant green leaves and the pastel-toned blossoms creates a picturesque display, generally appreciated in cottage gardens, mixed borders, and as cut flowers for indoor arrangements.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Dwarf Gladiolus, Miniature Gladiolus, Charm Gladiolus
- Common names
  Gladiolus nanus 'Charm'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The plant known as Gladiolus, including the variety Gladiolus nanus 'Charm', can be toxic if ingested by humans. The corms, or bulbs, of Gladiolus contain substances that can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea if eaten. In some cases, the consumption of Gladiolus plant parts can also lead to throat irritation, difficulty swallowing, and possible dermatitis from handling the plant. It is important to handle Gladiolus with care and ensure that its parts, especially the corms, are not ingested by humans, particularly children, to prevent these toxic reactions.
- To pets
  Gladiolus, which includes the variety Gladiolus nanus 'Charm', is toxic to pets such as cats and dogs if ingested. The primary toxic agent is found in the corms or bulbs of the plant. If a pet consumes any part of the Gladiolus, it may display symptoms of poisoning including vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, ingestion can lead to more serious effects such as an irregular heartbeat or convulsions. Pet owners should keep Gladiolus plants out of reach of their animals to avoid the possibility of ingestion and the subsequent toxic effects.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Spread
  6 inches (15 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds vibrant color and visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: Invites beneficial insects like bees and butterflies to the garden.
- Easy to Grow: Known for being low maintenance and easy to cultivate.
- Long Blooming Season: Has a lengthy flowering period which enhances garden beauty over time.
- Good Cut Flowers: Stems are sturdy and blooms last well, making them ideal for arrangements.
- Versatile Planting: Suitable for planting in borders, containers, and as mass plantings for a dramatic effect.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, can handle periods of dryness, reducing the need for frequent watering.
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
- Crafting Natural Dyes: The blossoms of the Gladiolus can be used to create natural dyes for textiles, offering a range of colors from the petals and other plant parts.
- Pressed Flower Art: Gladiolus blossoms are ideal for pressed flower projects because of their vivid colors and individual petal shapes, adding charm to bookmarks, cards, and wall art.
- Floral Water Infusions: The petals of Gladiolus, when soaked in water, can create lightly fragranced infusions for use in homemade cosmetics or room sprays.
- Edible Cake Decorations: The blossoms of certain Gladiolus varieties are edible and can add an elegant touch to desserts as natural, colorful garnishes.
- Garden Stakes: The tall, sturdy stalks of the Gladiolus, once trimmed and dried, can be repurposed as support stakes for other plants in the garden.
- Eco-Friendly Confetti: Dried Gladiolus petals provide an eco-friendly confetti option for celebrations, biodegrading naturally over time.
- Botanical Photography: Gladiolus flowers are photogenic subjects for botanical photography, offering a range of colors and intricate details for close-up shots.
- Herbarium Specimens: The distinct morphology of Gladiolus flowers and leaves make them suitable for collection and preservation as herbarium specimens for educational purposes.
- Companion Planting: Gladiolus plants may be used in companion planting to add height and color, attracting beneficial insects to the garden while deterring certain pests.
- Perfumery: While not widely known, the subtle fragrance of Gladiolus flowers can be captured and used in homemade perfumes or scent sachets.

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: The word "gladiolus" comes from "gladius," meaning sword in Latin, symbolizing strength and integrity.
- Victory: Gladioli were associated with gladiators in Ancient Rome, representing victory and pride.
- Remembrance: These flowers are often used to pay tribute to the memory of loved ones who have passed away.
- Infatuation: Giving gladioli can signify being struck by love and admiration, expressing to the receiver that they have pierced the giver's heart.
- Honor: With its tall and stately blooms, the gladiolus often represents honor and the strength to follow one’s convictions.
- Moral Integrity: Due to their upright growth, gladioli symbolize a moral compass and the importance of ethical values.

💧

Every 10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
The Hardy Gladiolus requires consistent moisture during the growing season, so water them once or twice a week depending on weather conditions. They should receive about 1 inch of water each week, which translates to about 0.6 gallons for a small garden area. Water in the morning or early afternoon to allow any moisture on the foliage to dry before evening, as wet leaves overnight can promote disease. During hot, dry spells, watering may need to increase to compensate for the lack of rainfall. It's essential to reduce watering once the flowers start to die back in late summer, supporting the corms as they enter dormancy.
Light
The Hardy Gladiolus thrives in full sun conditions, which means they need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. They perform best when planted in a location that provides bright and unfiltered sunlight throughout the day. Avoid planting them in areas that are shaded for a significant portion of the day, as this will lead to poor bloom development.
Temperature
Hardy Gladiolus can survive minimum temperatures of about 35°F, but they grow best when daytime temperatures are between 60°F and 80°F. The plant is not frost-hardy and should be protected or lifted in areas where winter temperatures go below freezing. Ideal growing conditions are warm days and cool nights, which help to enhance the vibrancy and longevity of the blooms.
Pruning
Pruning is not typically required for Hardy Gladiolus, but deadheading or removing spent flowers can help encourage a tidier appearance and more robust plant. After blooming has finished for the season, you can remove the flower stalks, but leave the foliage in place until it dies back naturally to allow the corms to gather energy for the next season. Pruning should be done just above the soil level once the foliage has yellowed and withered.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Hardy Sword Lily thrives in well-draining sandy loam soil enriched with organic matter; ideal soil mix consists of two parts loam, one part sand, and one part compost or well-rotted manure. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, in the range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Hardy Sword Lily corms should be lifted and divided every 3-4 years to maintain vigor and ensure optimal flowering. Replant fresh corms immediately at the right depth.
Humidity & Misting
Hardy Sword Lily prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable; it doesn't require any special humidity considerations beyond those found in its natural outdoor environment.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Use well-draining soil, bright indirect light, and keep moderately watered.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil, and provide regular water.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
The life of Gladiolus 'Nanus Charm', commonly known as Dwarf Gladiolus, begins with the planting of corms, which are its bulb-like storage organs, in spring after the threat of frost has passed. These corms germinate, developing roots and shoots that grow into erect, sword-shaped foliage. Following the foliage growth, flower spikes emerge, bearing numerous funnel-shaped flowers that bloom from the bottom upwards during the summer months. After flowering, the plant goes through a period of photosynthesis and resource accumulation to replenish the corm for the next season. As temperatures cool and plants enter dormancy in the fall, the foliage withers, and gardeners typically lift the corms to store them dry and cool over winter to prevent frost damage. New, replacement corms as well as smaller cormels that can be separated and replanted are formed each season, repeating the plant's cycle when replanted the following spring.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Gladiolus nanus 'Charm', commonly known as Hardy Gladiolus, is typically propagated through the division of corms. The best time to propagate Hardy Gladiolus is in the spring after the danger of frost has passed or in the early fall before the first frost. To propagate by corm division, one would carefully lift the mature plant from the soil after the foliage has died back and remove the new corms that have formed on top of the old ones. The corms should be cleaned of soil and any dead material, then stored in a cool, dry place with good air circulation until planting time. When ready to plant, the corms are placed about 4 inches (10 centimeters) deep in well-draining soil, spaced approximately 6 inches (15 centimeters) apart to allow for adequate growth.