Gladiolus
bulb
Plant corms 4–6 inches deep after last frost. Stagger plantings every 2 weeks for cut flowers all season. In zones 3–6, dig corms after the first frost and store in a cool dry place. One of the best cut flowers available — tall spires in almost every color.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–11
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam, sandy
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 6 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 4 plants per square
- Days to maturity
- About 90 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Grandiflora Mixedstart
Classic large-flowering gladiolus in a vibrant mixed color range.
- Nanus (Miniature)start
Compact 2-ft butterfly glads — more delicate and graceful.
- Black Starstart
Deep velvety maroon-black blooms — stunning and unusual.
Add Gladiolus to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →