Elvira Hardy Gladiolus

(12-18” tall x 4-6” wide) ‘Elvira’ Hardy Gladiolus has the charm, hardiness, and compact size needed to liberally utilize it throughout the sunny garden. The sword-like foliage will emerge first, creating low vertical accents in the spring garden, followed by tall flowering spikes with 6-8 blossoms in summer that open slowly from the bottom up. Planting denser groups of ‘Elvira’ Hardy Gladiolus makes a stronger impact than dotting individual corms around the garden. Plant them 6 inches deep at a rate of 12 per foot in average to sandy, well-drained soils. In containers, consider pairing with a low-growing filler to enhance the effect of those beautiful spikes. For gardeners in zones colder than their range, the corms can be brought inside and stored in slightly dampened sawdust in the winter. Otherwise, cut back the stems, mulch well, and look forward to years of enjoyment as the corms will increase with time. Mulching corms in autumn and ensuring they are sited in well-drained soil will allow this Gladiolus to stretch to  the ends of its hardiness limits.