Butterfly gladiolus

Butterfly gladioli have a softer, more detailed flower form than many traditional gladiolus varieties. Their blooms are usually smaller, often with ruffled or wavy-edged petals and contrasting markings across the throat, creating the wing-like effect behind their name. Carried along upright spikes above sword-shaped foliage, they bring the familiar vertical line of gladioli into the border in a more intricate form.

Plant butterfly gladiolus corms in spring in a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil. They generally stay below the scale of the tallest large-flowered gladioli, which makes them easier to place through mixed borders and useful in containers as well as dedicated cutting patches. Their stems also work particularly well for the vase, where the individual markings and frilled petals can be seen at closer range.

Colour is part of their character. Butterfly forms often combine a main petal colour with a contrasting splash or blotch through the lower petals or throat, so each spike carries more variation than a single flat shade would suggest. Repeat one variety through a border for a measured vertical accent, or combine several Butterfly gladiolus varieties where those changing markings can become part of the display. In frost-prone UK gardens, lift and store the corms dry and frost free once the foliage has died back.