Gladiolus Gladiolus 'Robinetta' (recurvus hybrid)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

Gladiolus 'Robinetta' presents a stunning display with its striking, funnel-shaped flowers that bloom along a tall, sword-like stalk. The blooms arrange themselves elegantly in a double row, creating a sense of orderly beauty. Each flower exhibits a vivid pink hue with delicate white accents that highlight the throat, adding depth and contrast to the presentation. The petals have slightly ruffled edges, which contribute to a soft texture, enhancing the overall visual appeal. The leaves of this Gladiolus variety are narrow and long, almost appearing like blades of vibrant green forming a tuft at the base of the stalk. This foliage complements the bright blossoms, providing a lush backdrop that makes the pink shades even more resplendent. The graceful assembly of the plant's parts results in a sophisticated and charming spectacle that turns any garden into a showcase of color and form.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Sword Lily, Gladiola
- Common names
  Gladiolus 'Robinetta'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The common Gladiolus, including the 'Robinetta' variety, is known to be mildly toxic to humans if ingested. The corms (bulb-like structures) are the most toxic part of the plant. If someone eats a significant quantity of the Gladiolus plant or corms, they could experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and self-limiting, but if a large amount is consumed, or if an individual is particularly sensitive, it could potentially lead to more severe digestive upset. It is important to seek medical advice if Gladiolus ingestion is suspected, especially in the case of children or vulnerable individuals.
- To pets
  Gladiolus is also toxic to pets, including cats and dogs. Similar to humans, the most toxic part of the plant for pets is the corms. If a pet ingests parts of the Gladiolus, they may exhibit symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Ingestion can lead to gastrointestinal upset in pets, and while the toxicity is generally considered mild to moderate, it can be more serious if a large amount is consumed. It is important to contact a veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested any part of a Gladiolus plant, as they can provide guidance and, if needed, appropriate treatment to prevent complications.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Red
- Height
  2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
- Spread
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds vivid color and vertical interest to gardens with its bright red flowers and tall, elegant stems.
- Attracts Pollinators: Invites beneficial pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds, supporting local ecosystems.
- Easy to Grow: Known for being a hardy plant that can thrive in a variety of soil conditions with minimal care.
- Cut Flower Usage: Long stems and striking blooms make it ideal for fresh floral arrangements and bouquets.
- Versatile Planting: Suitable for borders, flower beds, and containers, offering flexibility in garden design.
- Seasonal Interest: Blooms in the summer, providing seasonal color when many other plants have finished flowering.
- Bulb Propagation: Can be easily propagated from corms, allowing gardeners to expand their collection or share with others.
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
- Used as a natural dye source: The petals of Gladiolus 'Robinetta' can be boiled to extract colors for fabric dyeing, offering a range of hues from soft pinks to deep reds, depending on the mordant used.
- Decorative cake adornment: The vibrant flowers can be candied or used fresh to decorate cakes and desserts for a stunning visual impact.
- Artistic inspiration: The striking appearance of Gladiolus 'Robinetta' makes it a popular subject for botanical illustrators and photographers to capture its beauty and unique form.
- Craft projects: Dried petals can be used for creating bookmarks, greeting cards, or in scrapbooking for their color and texture.
- Gladiolus 'Robinetta' petal confetti: Dried petals can be used as environmentally friendly confetti for weddings or celebrations.
- Plant-based inks: The extraction of color from the petals can be further processed to create natural inks for fountain pens or calligraphy.
- Floral bath soak: Flower petals can be added to baths for a luxurious and fragrant bathing experience.
- Writing paper embellishment: When making handmade paper, petals can be incorporated into the pulp to create a beautiful speckled effect.
- Symbolic gifts: Due to their association with strength of character and honor, they can be given as gifts to convey respect and admiration.
- Living fences: When planted in rows or hedges, Gladiolus 'Robinetta' can create a visual barrier that is aesthetically pleasing and can offer a degree of privacy during their blooming season.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Gladiolus is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Gladiolus is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Strength of Character: The name "Gladiolus" is derived from the Latin word "gladius," which means sword. This association symbolizes strength, moral integrity, and persistence.
- Infatuation: Giving someone a Gladiolus can indicate that the giver is pierced by the recipient's charms, suggesting infatuation or admiration.
- Remembrance: Gladioli are often used in arrangements for commemorations and events that require reflection, representing remembrance and the desire not to be forgotten.
- Honor and Faithfulness: The gladiolus is frequently associated with honor and faithfulness, being a popular choice in ceremonies that celebrate these virtues.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Sword lilies should be watered thoroughly once or twice a week, providing enough moisture to soak the soil to the root level without causing waterlogging. During active growth, especially in dry conditions, up to 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per week is ideal to maintain adequate moisture. It's crucial to water in the morning to allow any moisture on the foliage to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of disease. Always check the soil moisture before watering, as overwatering can lead to bulb rot.
Light
Sword lilies thrive in full sun, where they can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. An ideal spot would be an open garden bed or along the edges where tall structures do not cast shade. Light intensity is important as it directly influences the robustness of the stems and the vibrancy of the blooms; therefore, ensure that the chosen location gets ample sunlight.
Temperature
Sword lilies are best suited for a temperate climate with ideal growth temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive minimum temperatures down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but they are not frost-hardy and should be protected or lifted in winter if temperatures drop below this point. During the growing season, maintaining temperatures within this range will support healthy gladiolus development.
Pruning
Sword lilies should be deadheaded by removing spent flowers to encourage further blooming and maintain a neat appearance. After flowering, cut the flower stalks, leaving the foliage to die back naturally as it provides energy for the bulb to produce next year's blooms. Prune in the late summer or early fall after the flowers have faded, but before the first frost.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Sword lilies like well-draining soil mixed with compost or aged manure; a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal for Gladiolus 'Robinetta'.
Repotting
Sword lilies typically do not need repotting as they are grown from corms that are planted annually.
Humidity & Misting
Sword lilies prefer moderate humidity levels but are quite adaptable and do not require specific humidity conditions.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Provide bright light, consistent moisture, and good air circulation.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, rich soil, ensure proper spacing, and stake if needed.
- Hardiness zone
  7-10 USDA.
Life cycle
Gladiolus 'Robinetta', commonly known as Sword Lily, begins its life cycle as a dormant corm, which is an underground storage organ. In spring, when temperatures rise and the soil warms up, the corms sprout producing sword-shaped leaves and a central flower spike. As the plant grows, buds develop along the spike and bloom into vibrant, funnel-shaped flowers from the bottom up. After flowering, the plant focuses on energy storage, and the leaves start to photosynthesize to replenish the corm for the next season. Once the foliage dies back in late summer or fall, the corm enters dormancy, and the cycle pauses until the following spring. During this period, cormlets may form around the base of the original corm, which can be separated and planted to propagate new plants.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating Gladiolus 'Robinetta', commonly known as glads or gladioli, is through division of corms. These corms are specialized swollen underground stems that store energy for the plant. The best time for corm division is in the autumn after the foliage has died back or in early spring before new growth begins. Gardeners gently lift the corms from the soil and remove the excess dirt. They then discard the old, spent corm, which is typically found at the bottom, and separate the new corms that have formed above it. The new corms, along with any small cormlets that have formed, can be stored in a cool, dry place over the winter at around 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6-7.2 degrees Celsius) and then planted in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, about 4-6 inches (10-15 centimeters) deep and spaced 6-8 inches (15-20 centimeters) apart.