About Gladioli: The Flower of Champions and Summer Beauty for Your Vase
If you tell your partner you want a bouquet of sword lilies, they might not know what you mean. But say gladioli, and it clicks right away. Yet it's one and the same plant. This majestic flower, a centerpiece of summer bouquets, carries strength, pride, and elegance within it.
Originally from South Africa, today it's just as much at home in Czech gardens. It gets its name from its leaves, which are sharp and long like a sword (Latin gladius).
A Long History: The Flower of Gladiators
Gladioli have a fascinating history. In ancient Rome, they were a symbol of victory.
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Gladiators: Legend has it that victorious gladiators were showered with gladiolus flowers after a fight. This is also said to be the origin of the phrase "Death, or gladioli" (victory, or the end).
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An amulet: It was believed that a gladiolus corm worn around the neck as an amulet would protect a warrior from injury.
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Symbolism today: Thanks to this history, the gladiolus is a symbol of strength, victory, moral integrity, and loyalty.
A tip for you: Looking for a bouquet for a man? Thanks to its "sword-like" shape and masculine symbolism, the gladiolus is an absolutely ideal choice.
Gladioli: Summer Sale
We have the most beautiful colors for you in season.
Gladioli Bouquet
790 Kč
Gladioli flower
65 Kč
Summer bouquet of Gladiol
1 525 Kč
Raspberry Gladiolus Bouquet
759 Kč
Bouquet of red gladiolus
598 Kč
Bouquet of Sunny Gladiolus
785 KčGladiolus as a Cut Flower: How to Care for It?
Customers often look for long-lasting flowers that won't wilt the next day. Gladioli are champions at this. They can easily stay in a vase for 14 days, because the blooms along the long stem open gradually from the bottom up. This makes them ideal for long-lasting floral decor indoors.
To keep them bringing you joy for as long as possible, follow our florists' advice:
A diagonal cut: Before putting them in water, trim the stem with a diagonal cut (about 2–3 cm).
Removing spent blooms: Once the lower flowers finish blooming and wilt, carefully pluck them off. This way the plant won't waste energy and will send its strength to the upper buds instead.
Water: Gladioli drink a lot. Change the water every 2 days and use flower food for cut flowers.
Cool conditions: If it's tropical heat outside, you can mist the leaves with a spray bottle, but be careful not to let water run directly into the blooms (it could leave spots).
Pro tip: Do the top buds sometimes refuse to open? Try a little trick: snap off the very tip of the spike (the last tiny bud at the top). This stops the plant from growing taller, and it "pumps" all its energy into opening the rest of the blooms instead.
Who Are They Good For?
Thanks to their height and vibrant colors, gladioli are impossible to miss.
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Birthdays and congratulations: A large bouquet of gladioli looks grand and festive.
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Funeral arrangements: Thanks to their dignity and the symbolism of "ascending to heaven" (from their vertical growth), they're also often used in modern funeral floristry.
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Indoor decor: They look great in tall floor vases in modern flats.
How to Grow Them? (A Note for Gardeners)
If you want to grow this beauty yourself:
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Planting: The corms are planted in spring (April/May) into warmed soil, about 10 cm deep.
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Sun: They love a sunny spot.
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Support: Since they grow up to 1.5 meters tall, they need staking so they don't snap in the wind.
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Winter: Watch out, they aren't frost-hardy! Before winter, you need to dig up the corms and store them somewhere dry and cool (a cellar, for example).
Whether you grow them yourself or prefer to buy a ready-tied bouquet from us, gladioli bring color and elegance into your summer.
Team KvětinyExpres.cz
