Tall, lush green lashes, densely planted with lush and vibrant flowers, adorn gardens and flowerbeds in the summer. These are gladioli, the article gives the most decorative varieties of this culture with names and descriptions.

Biological description of the genus

Gladiolus is one of the most popular bulb crops grown in flower beds. They are mainly cultivated for the sake of beautiful and very diverse inflorescences. The plant belongs to the family Rosaceae (lat. Rosaceae).

Biologists know about 200 varieties of this beautiful flower, most come from Africa, but some can also be found in Europe and Asia. In Russia, this resident of the front gardens is sometimes called a fencer.

Important! Gladioli are not a frost-resistant crop, their aerial parts die off annually, and corms in the soil require storage in a dry and warm place. Therefore, in September or October, depending on the weather, they must be removed from the soil, dried and stored until the springprecipitation at a temperature of + 4 ... +7°C.

Gladiolus is a grassy monocotyledonous plant consisting of underground and aboveground parts. Underground, it consists of the mother bulb and substitute tubers (children) formed during the growing season (in one season). The leaves are lanceolate, their shape is very similar to a sword - hence the Russian name of the culture (fencer).

The inflorescence is at the end of the tubular stem, which often reaches more than a meter in height, and consists of many individual flowers (from two to twenty). After they fade, in their place the fruits appear in the form of a small bag. The buds open from July to August.

Classification of gladioli

In the modern world, there are more than 10,000 only officially registered gladiolus varieties by breeders, as well as many created hybrid forms. Every year, flower catalogs are replenished with hundreds of new products. To make orientation in the description of plants easier, an international classification has been adopted.

For example, take the gladiolus cultivar Birch Chintz, the record will be of this type: 401 – R / RS – 2016, T. Lazarevich, SSG, 18–21 / 9, 125 cm.

Decoding:

• 401 describes the size of the flower - the first digit (4) indicates that it is large, the next two (01) in color, in this case white, that the last digit is odd, indicates a border on the petals;
• the letter designation P / RS - means the flowering period (early or early-medium);
• 2016 is the year when this variety was registered by the breeder;
• Lazarevich T. - surname and initials of the creator;
• SSG - indicates a strong corrugation of the petals;
• 18-21 / 9 - the first and second numbers indicate the number of possible buds on the arrow (from and to), the third - how many flowers will be opened simultaneously;
• 125 cm - the height of this grade is indicated in centimeters.

Flowers are divided into five classes, according to the size of the bud in the expanded state.

Corms of culture are divided by size, which is called parsing among professionals. According to international classification, such planting material has clearly defined parameters.

Types of analysis of corms of gladiolus:

• I analysis - diameter more than 3.2 cm;
• II analysis - diameter 2.5-3.1 cm;
• III analysis - diameter 1.5–2.4 cm;
• IV analysis - diameter 0.8–1.4 cm;
• landing baby - diameter 0.4-0.8 cm.

Color palette of varieties:

Varieties with a border around the edge of the petal, as well as contrasting spots in the same place or in the center of the flower, are easy to recognize, since their code has an odd number as the last digit (303, 461, 687).

Among gardeners, gladioli are also very popular due to the fact that rarely what kind of plants can please so many petal colors. This culture gives scope to the designer’s imagination in compiling many options for live compositions.

Classification of flowering dates:

Flowers on the fruit arrow of different varieties of gladioli can be arranged: in one or two rows, as well as in the form of a spiral, the end of which is at the top of the “sword”. The border of the petals also differs depending on the variety, it can have a smooth surface, be highly corrugated, in the form of folds or fringe. The most beautiful are gladioli with a distinctly corrugated edge, as they create the most airy structure of the flower dome.

Popular varieties

Hybrids obtained through targeted crossbreeding deserve special attention of gardeners. Since the main goal was decorative. Thus, over several centuries, many interesting varieties have been created.

Flower of Life

The full classification of the gladiolus Flower of Life looks like this: 464 – С – 2008, Vasiliev, SG, 23/10, 130 cm. This wonderful plant belongs to the authorship of Vasiliev Sergey Alekseevich. During selection, the varieties Twilight (476 – RS – 04, Vasiliev) and Raspberry Skazka (465 – OR – 97, Gorelik) were used.

Important! In the mass cultivation of gladioli, it is recommended to apply the tension of a horizontal garden grid with large cells above the bed. This device will help keep the plants from falling to the ground, and will also help to ensure that the stems are smooth, without bending.

The plant has a monochromatic bright raspberry color with a magnificent, lush corrugation along the edge and "pinches" at the base of the petal. On a strong fruit arrow, about a dozen buds of large diameter, tightly adjacent to each other, simultaneously bloom. The kidneys are arranged in two rows, without intervals. The maximum stem height of the Flower of Life reaches 1.3 m.

Thanks to the dense arrangement of buds, it is perfect for cutting into solemn bouquets. It goes well with decorative greenery, which has an openwork structure, for example with asparagus.

City Kitezh

The official classification of the gladiolus of the Grad Kitezh variety is as follows: 477 – P – 94, Dybov, SSG, 22/9, 150 cm.The plant is tall, reaches a maximum of 150 cm. The leaf rosette is lush, collected from long elongated green leaves, up to 4 cm wide.

Did you know? Doctors say that the concentration of ascorbic acid in the leaves of gladioli is on the same level as the rosehips.

Petals have a rich lilac color and a highly corrugated structure, the inside is painted in a yellow-greenish tint. They are bordered by a wavy frill painted in basic tone. City Kitezh is distinguished by its good resistance to cultural diseases. Flowering early, the variety is designed for summer cut.

It is recommended to grow together with an additional support: wooden or metal stakes, on a trellis or on a vertical grid. At the same time, 8–9 buds are revealed on the fruit arrow. The diameter of the flowers reaches 15 cm. Gladiolus responds well to nitrogen and mineral dressing at the beginning and end of the growing season.

The Great Temptation

The variety was created in 1997 by the breeder Dybov, its code, according to the international classification: 554–97 – RS, Dybov, 22 / 8–10, 135 cm. The bright red gladiolus petals have an elegant, lace corrugated border, and a moire fragment at the attachment point. Across each there is a light oblong section, with a color that changes from the main tone to white.

The ear is dense, up to 70 cm long, there are 22 buds on it, at one time a dozen large flowers open. The leaves are dense, green, light, sinewy, arranged parallel to each other. Gladiolus the Great Temptation does not differ in special requests when growing, suitable for cutting, stands in bouquets for a long time.

Did you know? The name gladioli comes from the Latin "gladis", which means «sword» or «sword». The basis for this was the shape of the leaves of the plant.

This variety reproduces well, the mother bulb grows several full-fledged children over the summer, capable of throwing buds in a year. It has medium disease resistance, frost resistance is weak. The bush grows to 130 cm. It blooms, depending on the region of cultivation, in August or September. Prefers sunny places, poorly developed in shading.. Corms of the Great Temptation are recommended to be planted in a flowerbed in late April or early May. It is worth using planting material with a diameter of at least 12-14 mm, in this case the flowers will be as large as possible, and the plant will be healthy.

Cheshire Cat

Breeding of the Fotins family, flower growers, whose dynasty has been breeding for 40 years. The variety Cheshire Cat belongs to the mid-early group gladioli. The first public presentation took place in 2015. Classification according to the international catalog: 595 – CP, Fotin, 2015, 23/7, 160 cm.

A large flower, up to 14 cm in diameter, is painted in a dull, burgundy-chestnut tone. The corrugated hem has a gray-green, muted hue. The height of the arrow reaches 80 cm, 23 buds are harmoniously located on it, of which 7 are simultaneously opened. The maximum height of the plant is 160 cm. The petals are highly corrugated, there are deep folds along the inner edge. Has a wing-shaped buds.

Dense green leaves are attached in a bunch to the base of the peduncle near the ground. For gladiolus, the Cheshire Cat recommended planting bulbs with a spacing of the interval between plants of 15–20 cm, which will further facilitate flower care. For a successful vegetation, the planting depth should be at least three times the height of the tuber.

Blue topaz

A rare flower presented in 2006 by breeder V.S. Kolganov. As the mother plants were taken: Gene (375 – C – 98, Cluti) and Modri ​​Program (483 – P – 81, Riznar). Blue Topaz encoding, according to international classification, looks like this: 584–06 – R / RS, Kolganov 2006, SG, 18–22 / 7, 130 cm.

The maximum height of the bush of Blue Topaz reaches a mark of 1.3 m. Almost flush with the height of the fruit arrow are erect stiff leaves of a lanceolate shape and a bright green color, collected at the base of the plant in a dense outlet.

Fruit spike from 22 buds.. At the same time, up to seven large buds bloom, the petals of which have a plain blue color with a light pale lilac hue. The flowers are thin, with a delicate structure, very wavy (corrugated), their diameter often exceeds 14 cm. The variety is early or medium early.Blue Topaz is known for its rapid growth and early entry into the unfolding period of peduncle buds. The disadvantages of the variety include high demands on cultivation agricultural technology, a tendency to fungal and bacterial diseases. An individual garter of the bushes to an additional support, capable of withstanding the severity of blossoming buds, and keeping the gladiolus upright is recommended.

Malika

A tall variety of Soviet selection, named by breeder Gromov in honor of the ballerina Malika Sabirova, a student of the legendary prima of the Bolshoi Theater - Ulanova. Maliki's classification code: 545 – С, Gromov, SG, 22-24 / 7/9, 180 cm. It grows to a maximum mark of 180 cm. It is distinguished by huge colors, their width across can be about 18 cm. The slightly corrugated petals have a very dense structure, painted in salmon tone with pink spots that are closer to the outer edge.

Buds in the amount of 22 pieces are located at the end of a long fruit arrow, occupying a length of almost 70 cm. The blossoming buds on the stem remain fresh for a week or more, after cutting they wither in a vase for two or three days.

Important! So that vegetative gladioli do not get sick with fungal or bacterial diseases, planting material, before being placed in the ground, is soaked for some time in preparations containing fungicides ("Decis").

Gladiolus Malika loves full sun lighting and fertilized soil, with a high nitrogen content, forms powerful fruit arrows and a lush bush. It is very demanding on care and irrigation, does not tolerate irrigation by sprinkling, as it loses decorativeness. In addition, a wet plant can get powdery mildew. It multiplies rapidly, forming a large orange corm. Being planted from a baby, it may bloom the very next year.

Montezuma

More than 20 years have passed since the creation of the variety, but, despite this, its popularity has not weakened, and the demand is growing. Gladiolus Montezuma belongs to the authorship of the famous breeder Konicek. The presentation took place in 1995 at a flower exhibition, which caused a real stir among connoisseurs. The flower has repeatedly received various awards among representatives of culture.

Classification code: 475, C, OSG, Konitshek 1995, 22–25 / 12, 160 cm.Montezuma is a very tall variety, its fruit arrow reaches a maximum height of 160 cm. A bunch of long leaves shaped like a sword and framing an ear is attached to its base.

Did you know? An ancient Greek legend says that the deadly swords of the gladiator-friends Sevta and Teresa, who did not fight with each other, turned into bulbs of gladioli. Subsequently, faithful comrades were executed by order of the emperor.

The leaves are painted in a juicy green tone, dense, have strong veins, are located up. Gladiolus needs additional support, as the arrow is very heavy and tends the plant to the ground, especially under the influence of rain and wind. The height of the inflorescence is 80 cm; it is formed of 25 large flowers (up to 14 cm in diameter) that open gradually.

Among the remarkable characteristics, there is not only the extraordinary beauty of the plant, but also ease of propagation, as well as partial immunity to diseases of bulb crops. In terms of flowering Montezuma belongs to the group of medium-early varieties.

In order for all the buds to open, the plant needs some time. One by one, only the lower 10-15 pieces bloom, and those located in the upper part of the ear remain in the form of large buds from tightly folded petals. They are painted in a light lilac color with dark veins of the same shade, closer to the center the tone becomes richer and brighter. The border is collected in the form of a fringe of a light green shade.

To make the right choice, the gardener should rely on personal experience or the international classification of gladioli, which takes into account all the important parameters of the variety. That is how he will be able to create an interesting plant composition, and stretch the flowering of the flowerbed for the whole summer.