'Black Jack' Gladiolus
Perennial
- Dark red flowers with nearly black borders add striking vertical interest.
- Deer-resistant, easy-to-grow, and pollinator-friendly.
- Long-lasting in bouquets, amazing addition for cut flower gardens!
- Zones 8-11, full sun, 40-56”’ tall and 1-2’ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Gladiolus, also known as sword lilies, come in a wide range of colors and boasts trumpet-shaped flower spikes. They are a popular choice for cut flowers and are so easy to grow! Many are hardy in zones 8-11, however, if you live in a colder area you can dig them up and store them overwinter before replanting in the spring.
Details
Common name: Gladiolus
Zone: 8-11
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours direct sunlight)
Height x width: 40-56” tall x 1-2' wide
Flower color: Red
Foliage color: Green
Planting Season: Spring
Season of interest: Mid to late summer
Bloom time: Summer to fall
Features: Heat tolerant, container plants, low maintenance, pollinator-friendly, cut flower, deer resistant, rabbit resistant
Uses: Border, mass planting, container plantings, cut flower, cottage garden, pollinator garden
How to Grow
Light: Full sun.
Planting Depth: 4-6" inches deep
Water: Water plants during the summer if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Deep watering once a week is better than light watering daily.
Spacing: 8-10”
Fertilizing: Lightly fertilize when the flower spikes emerge
Winterizing: Lift in zones 3-7 before first frost. Zone 8-11 may either dig their bulbs before frost or cover thickly with mulch.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back foliage in preparation for digging the bulbs up before the first frost.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.