Sword Lily Gladiolus 'Prins Claus' (N)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

Gladiolus 'Prins Claus' is a striking ornamental plant known for its showy and colorful flowers. The plant produces tall, upright flower spikes adorned with funnel-shaped blossoms. The blooms exhibit a distinctive pattern, featuring a crisp white base color splashed with delicate flecks and bold streaks of pink to raspberry red. The petals have a slightly ruffled look, which adds to their visual interest. The contrasting colors make the flowers stand out and can add a dramatic effect to garden borders or floral arrangements. The foliage of 'Prins Claus' consists of sword-shaped leaves that are a deep, rich green, creating a backdrop that highlights the beauty of the blooms. The leaves are arranged in a fan-like pattern, emerging from the base of the plant. The attractive foliage and blossoms contribute to Gladiolus 'Prins Claus'’s popularity as both a garden plant and a cut flower, beloved for its elegance and vibrant coloration.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Sword Lily, Gladiola
- Common names
  Gladiolus 'Prins Claus'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', commonly known as gladiolus, is not typically considered highly toxic to humans. However, all parts of the plant contain compounds that can cause mild irritation if ingested. Symptoms from ingesting gladiolus may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and throat irritation.
- To pets
  Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', commonly known as gladiolus, can be toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs. Ingesting any part of the gladiolus plant can result in symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In more severe cases, it may cause a decrease in appetite, shaking, or cardiac abnormalities. If a pet ingests gladiolus, it's important to contact a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  6-12 inches (15-30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Value: The Gladiolus 'Prins Claus' adds aesthetic appeal to gardens with its striking white flowers and contrasting red markings.
- Landscape Design: It can be used as a focal point or to add height and structure in borders and flower beds.
- Cut Flowers: The blooms are long-lasting when cut, making them ideal for floral arrangements.
- Pollinator Attraction: These plants can attract bees and butterflies, which are important for pollination in the garden.
- Seasonal Interest: They flower in the summer, providing seasonal interest when many other plants may not be in bloom.
- Variety: This cultivar offers a unique color variation that can be used to create diverse and interesting garden designs.
- Easy Propagation: Gladiolus bulbs (corms) are relatively easy to propagate, allowing for garden expansion or sharing with other gardeners.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, they require minimal care beyond occasional watering and staking to keep them upright.
- Border Planting: Due to their tall, slender growth habit, they are well-suited for planting at the back of garden borders.
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 'Prins Claus' can be used for natural dyeing, as the flowers may produce various shades of dye, depending on the mordant used.
- The strong stalks of gladiolus can be used in crafting, such as for making natural wreaths or as sturdy supports for other florals in arrangements.
- Certain parts of the gladiolus can be used in papermaking, especially the fibrous leaves, contributing texture and decorative elements to handcrafted paper.
- The sword-like leaves of the gladiolus can be incorporated into landscape design, adding structure and height to garden beds.
- Gladiolus flowers can be pressed and used in botanical art projects, such as handmade greeting cards or bookmarks due to their vibrant colors and interesting shapes.
- Some gladiolus varieties have been used to create perfumes, thanks to their subtle and pleasant fragrance.
- The corms of the gladiolus, particularly those of wild species, have been historically used as a food source after thorough cooking to break down any potentially toxic compounds.
- Chopped up gladiolus leaves can serve as a green mulch to provide organic matter and nutrients as it decomposes in garden beds.
- Gladiolus flowers can be used in educational settings to teach botany, illustrating parts of a flower and discussing plant reproduction.
- The large, attractive flowers of gladiolus are sometimes used in fashion, such as for adorning hats or as part of a botanical-themed photoshoot.

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 named after the Latin word "gladius," meaning sword, and it symbolizes strength, sincerity, and moral integrity.
- Honor: The flower is associated with honor and remembrance, partly because gladiators used swords, which the flower resembles.
- Infatuation: Giving someone a Gladiolus can mean that the giver is piercing the recipient with their heart, representing a strong feeling of infatuation.
- Generosity: The tall and striking appearance of the Gladiolus signifies generosity due to its large giving bloom.
- Remembrance: Gladiolus is often used in arrangements for commemorating someone's life, making it a symbol for remembrance and paying tribute.
- Calming: With its beautiful and calming appearance, it’s said to symbolize calmness and tranquility.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', commonly known as gladiolus, requires consistent moisture particularly when the flowers begin to develop. During active growth, water the plant thoroughly once a week with approximately half a gallon of water per plant, ensuring that the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Increase watering to twice a week during dry spells. Once the plants have finished flowering and the leaves begin to yellow, gradually reduce watering to help the corms cure before winter.
Light
Gladiolus requires full sun to bloom well, so place your 'Prins Claus' gladiolus in a location where it can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The plant thrives under bright conditions but should be protected from extremely hot afternoon sun in very hot climates.
Temperature
The 'Prins Claus' gladiolus prefers warm temperatures and generally can survive in temperatures ranging from 35°F to 90°F. The optimal growing temperature for gladiolus is between 60°F and 70°F. Frost can be damaging to the plant, so it is important to ensure they are not exposed to freezing conditions.
Pruning
Pruning gladiolus, including the 'Prins Claus' variety, involves the removal of old flower spikes once blooming has finished to encourage reblooming and maintain a neat appearance. Additionally, once foliage turns yellow and dies back at the end of the season, it should be cut back to ground level. Pruning is done annually after blooming and at the end of the growing season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', commonly known as sword lily, should be well-draining and loamy with a mixture of sand, compost, and a bit of peat to retain some moisture. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Sword lilies, or Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', are typically grown from corms which should be planted annually in the spring; repotting is not a common practice as corms are replaced.
Humidity & Misting
Sword lilies, or Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', prefer moderate ambient humidity but are quite adaptable and do not require specific humidity levels to thrive.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place sword lilies in bright light with soil drainage.
- Outdoor
  Plant corms in sun, well-drained soil, spring.
- Hardiness zone
  7-10 USDA
Life cycle
The life of a Gladiolus 'Prins Claus' begins when a corm, which is an underground storage organ, is planted in the soil usually in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. The corm sprouts and produces sword-shaped leaves, with the plant's stem growing upwards. Buds form on the stem and eventually bloom into the distinctive funnel-shaped flowers that are white with pink to red markings and are arranged along one side of the stem in late summer. After flowering, the plant goes through pollination, which can be facilitated by insects, leading to the development of seeds. The top growth of the plant dies back as temperatures drop in autumn, with the corm going dormant over the winter months. For continued growth in the next season, either the new corms produced by the plant can be harvested and replanted, or if left in the ground, they will naturally begin the cycle again when conditions are favorable.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to summer
- Propogation: Gladiolus 'Prins Claus', commonly known as Sword Lily, is typically propagated through corms, with the ideal time for this being in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. To propagate, gardeners should plant the corms approximately 4 to 6 inches deep and around 6 inches apart in well-draining soil with good sun exposure. These corms should start to sprout after several weeks, eventually giving rise to new Sword Lily plants that will bloom in the late summer. Care should be taken to provide adequate water and to avoid planting in areas where water tends to collect, as this can cause rot. After the growing season, the corms can be lifted, dried, and stored in a cool, dry place for planting in the following year, effectively creating a cycle of propagation and ensuring the growth of new Gladiolus 'Prins Claus' plants every year.