Atom Hardy Gladiolus

(24-36” tall x 4-6”wide) It’s incredible that a small brown corm of ‘Atom’ Hardy Gladiolus planted in spring can become 36 inches of spectacular, bold red color in the summer garden – but it’s a testament to the fact that great things can come in small packages! Planted 6 inches deep at a rate of 12 per square foot in loose, well-drained, sunny soils, the corms will quickly develop sword-like green leaves in late spring. In early to mid-summer as heat indexes rise, long, elegant spikes will emerge and slowly reveal ruby-red blossoms with silvery margins, opening from the bottom up. This flowering habit makes Gladioli an excellent cut flower, as fading blossoms can be removed from the stems, allowing them to remain fresh and fabulous in the vase for much longer. If you don’t cut them for indoor arrangements, expect hummingbirds to fight over those scarlet blooms! Protection from windy areas is recommended to avoid light staking. When ‘Atom’ Hardy Gladiolus is planted in well-drained soils and mulched well in fall, it shows remarkable hardiness within stated range. Gladiolus are perennial in zones 8-10. At the end of the season, cut back the stems, mulch well, and look forward to years of enjoyment as the corms will increase with time. For gardeners in cooler zones, the corms can be brought inside and stored in slightly dampened sawdust in the winter. Mulching corms in autumn and ensuring they are sited in well-drained soil will allow this Gladiolus to stretch to the ends of its  hardiness limits.