The Meanings Of Flowers: The GladioliusWhat the gladiolus means: gladiolus represent sincerity and strength of character. About the gladiolus… Native to South Africa, gladiolus also grow wild in southern Europe and the Middle East. The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius, which means “sword” (the leaves are sword shaped). In ancient Greece, gladiolas were called “xiphim,” from the Greek word xiphos, which also means “sword.” Gladiolus flowers were also well known for their medicinal purposes. The English used the corms of the plant for drawing out thorns and splinters. Powdered corms mixed with goat’s milk were used to treat colic.
A member of the iris family, gladiolus bloom from July until the first frost and come in many colours. It is the flower of the month for August. The dramatic blooms, with their tall stalks are lovely in large sized arrangements. To care for these blooms and extend their vase life, remove blooms that have wilted. This will encourage the other buds to open. Snipping off the top two or three green buds straightens the stem and helps the other flowers to open. A word of caution though: these blooms they do require a lot of water, so make sure they get a daily “drink.” Forget them at your peril!
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