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Gladiolus 'Ruby' (_papilio_ hybrid)

sword lily 'Ruby'

A cormous perennial to 80cm tall, producing upright, sword-shaped leaves. In mid-to late summer it bears short spikes of large, hooded, ruby-red flowers with darker markings on the lip tepals

Synonyms

Gladiolus papilio 'Ruby'
Gladiolus ecklonii 'Ruby'
see moreGladiolus papilio red-flowered
Gladiolus papilio ruby-flowered

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs, not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Gladiolus are cormous perennials with fans of sword-shaped or linear leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant corms 10-16cm deep in spring. If the soil is not perfectly-drained, plant the corms on a bed of sand. Provide a winter mulch in cold areas

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in spring, or by separating cormlets when dormant

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove spent flower stems and allow foliage to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to gladiolus thrip, aphids and slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to corm rot and grey moulds (botrytis)

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