Gladiolus Atom (Sword-Lily)

One of the loveliest Sword-Lily, Gladiolus 'Atom' features unbelievably beautiful bright red petals delicately edged with a silvery white lining. Highly popular since its introduction in 1946, its long-lasting and eye-catching flowers (up to 7 per stem) grow on loose spikes (2-3 spikes per corm) that are adorned with narrow, deep-green sword-shaped leaves. Since the flowers open from the bottom of the spike up, sword-lilies provide a long-lasting floral display, each flowering spike blooming for up to two weeks. Spectacular on its own, in the garden or in a vase!

• Grows up to 30-36 in. tall (75-90 cm). The bigger the corm, the more chance it will produce larger plants and more spectacular flowers.
• Best flowering occurs in full sun in humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soils. This plant adapts to a wide range of soils except clay. Provide consistent moisture during the growing season and do not allow the soil to dry out. After flowering, you may reduce watering.
• Ideal for cutting, this sword-lilies deserve a prime spot in beds, borders and are well suited for containers.
• Sword-Lilies bloom for 2 weeks or so. To extend their colorful show, you may plant them every two weeks from the last frost date until early summer. It typically takes 10-12 weeks from planting to flowering.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.