Plant half-hardy hybrid gladiolus corms directly outside in mid to late spring, or start them under cover earlier. Hardy naturalising types, including Gladiolus byzantinus, can be planted in autumn or spring. Always plant corms during the season in which they arrive.
Out of season
Embellish your borders with the jewel-like blooms of glamorous Gladiolus 'Ruby Red'. There’s more to love about this papilio hybrid than just the beautiful gem-like colour of the distinctive and elegant hooded flowers. Gladiolus 'Ruby Red' is a fully hardy perennial so there’s no need to worry about it over winter in most areas, it can also multiply gradually so you can look forward to seeing greater numbers of them appearing over time as these goldblotch gladioli naturalise in your garden.
Gladiolus 'Ruby Red' looks right at home in a natural-looking, informal setting such as a prairie planting scheme, where these upright flower spikes can sway in the breeze among slender ornamental grasses like Pennisetum or Panicum. They’re equally pretty planted in drifts or swathes through a mixed border with flowering perennials in other jewel-like shades. Gladiolus papilio 'Ruby Red' is a joy to grow—it’s low maintenance and resilient, all whilst brandishing delicate, tasteful charm.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Grow gladioli in full sun, in a sheltered border or large patio container. They need free-draining conditions, so improve heavy soil with organic matter and grit or plant into a raised bed. For containers, use peat-free multipurpose compost.
Position each corm with its pointed side facing upwards, around 10–15cm deep. Space them approximately 10cm apart when planting in groups. A generous cluster creates a fuller display and allows the flower spikes to offer one another some support.
Water thoroughly after planting, then allow the soil to become nearly dry between waterings while the corms remain dormant. Once shoots appear, water regularly throughout active growth, particularly during warm, dry weather and when growing gladioli in containers.
Most gladioli remain upright without help, although staking is useful in exposed or windy positions. Remove faded flower spikes just above the foliage, then leave the leaves to die back naturally. They can be cut down to ground level in autumn.
Lift half-hardy hybrid gladiolus corms in autumn and store them somewhere cool, dry and frost free. These varieties often give their strongest display in their first year. Hardy naturalising gladioli can remain outdoors where the soil drains freely and does not become waterlogged.
- Botanical name
- Gladiolus papilio 'Ruby Red'
- Flower colour
- Ruby red
- Corm size
- 10/+
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 10-20cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 30 corms per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Borders
Coastal gardens
Gravel gardens
Cottage gardens
Cut flower Gardens
Large containers - Sunlight
- Full sun
- Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Good for cutting
Perfect for pots
Pollinator-friendly
Thrives in full sun
Perennial
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
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Gladiolus 'Ruby Red' reviews
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