I’m trying to decide if I should buy any gladiola corms this spring. The flowers are so beautiful and stately, but compared to other plants in the garden, the blooms are fleeting. In my garden they generally last no more than a few days, and that assumes no heavy rains, no stiff breezes and no squirrels using them for a pole vault. Despite their short stay, I’m always excited to see the first petals unfurl.
I don’t dig up my glad corms and overwinter them in the basement like I’m supposed to (too much work), but quite often they’ll survive and surprise me the following summer. And I used to have problems with chipmunks stealing the corms, but they don’t seem to be interested in them anymore.
Assuming they can withstand the wind and rain, gladioli are very carefree. They don’t have any issues with insects or diseases, and it’s easy to tuck a few corms into an existing perennial bed or annual garden because they take up so little space.
There are miniature cultivars that grow as little as 20-25 inches tall. I think I’ll test drive one this spring and see if their short stature allows them to better battle the elements. It could be the perfect compromise.