Latest Interpretation of Gladiolus Flower Language and Cultural Knowledge
Gladiolus, also known as Gladiolus gandavensis, sword lily, and bamboo-leaf gladiolus among other names, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Gladiolus in the family Iridaceae. Its corm is flattened and round. Its original species comes from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and was developed through multiple interspecific hybridizations. Cultivated varieties are widely distributed around the world and can be used for flower baskets, bouquets, vase arrangements, and more. They can also be used to create flower borders and specialized flower beds. Now let us take a look at the flower language and culture of gladiolus!
The Flower Language of Gladiolus
1. It represents remembrance, and also expresses love, attentiveness, longevity, health and tranquility, and fortune.
2. Attentiveness, fortune, wealth and honor, rising step by step, and steadfastness. Chinese people believe that the gladiolus leaf resembles a long sword, like the precious sword worn by Zhong Kui, and can ward off evil spirits and avert misfortune. It has become an indispensable floral accent for festive celebrations. In addition, its flowers bloom gradually from bottom to top, symbolizing steady promotion step by step, making it a widely used flower material in congratulatory flower baskets.
3. Secret rendezvous, attentiveness. The delicate flowers, protected by thick stems, bloom quietly on the stems. This probably reminds people of a woman who turns up her coat collar to half cover her face! So many people tie them into bouquets and give them to the other person as a secret signal for a rendezvous. Although a secret rendezvous can raise the heat of romance, one must not lose composure, so another flower language of gladiolus is attentiveness.
Gladiolus Pairings
1. Blooming Season
[Flower Materials] 15 stems of pink gladiolus, 9 stems of pink perfumed lilies, 29 stems of red roses, with baby's breath and asparagus fern and other green leaves for pairing.
[Comment] This fresh flower arrangement uses pink gladiolus. Pink originally gives a rather delicate feeling, but because gladiolus has a tension-filled opening posture, it lets people see a kind of youthful power. It is especially suitable for giving to women.
2. Smooth and Satisfactory
[Flower Materials] 6 stems of red gladiolus, 2 stems of multi-headed pink perfumed lilies, 9 stems of red gerbera, paired with an appropriate amount of gardenia leaves, Brazilian leaves, and turtle-back leaves.
[Comment] Red gladiolus is the highlight of this fresh flower arrangement, letting people see enthusiasm for life. Paired with lilies, which symbolize “everything going as one wishes,” it is especially delightful.
The Culture of Gladiolus
As early as the beginning of the 17th century, when gladiolus still grew wild in the Cape of Good Hope region of Africa, only some aristocratic ladies who loved flowers as much as life appreciated it and sent people to collect it for cultivation in their home gardens. In 1807, the British missionary William Herbert crossed 11 species of wild gladiolus in the bishop's garden and cultivated 3 new varieties with beautiful flower colors. Thereafter, it gradually spread to European and American countries. In the Netherlands, long known as the “Kingdom of a Hundred Flowers,” flower merchants prioritized bringing gladiolus to market, and its total output was second only to the national flower, the tulip.
Because gladiolus has a captivating charm, many Westerners regard it as a symbol of joy, celebration, and harmony. It is indispensable in ceremonial flowers presented at weddings, banquets, or mutual visits by celebrities. In particular, many American families use it for arrangements every day. In 1984, when U.S. President Reagan ended his visit to China and held a thank-you banquet, the American side specially airlifted more than 1,100 fresh gladiolus stems from Hong Kong, China and Guangzhou to Beijing to enhance the lively atmosphere of the banquet.
China is a pioneer of the Eastern-style flower arrangement school. As early as 1599, the Ming dynasty scholar Yuan Hongdao's Vase History already gave a clear discussion of the artistic beauty of flower arrangement: “Flower arrangement should not be too elaborate, nor too thin (meaning sparse); at most two or three kinds, with height and density arranged as in a painting garden, then it is wonderful.” At that time, gladiolus had not yet appeared, but his statement is also very suitable for gladiolus arrangements. According to Chinese and foreign master flower arrangers, gladiolus, whether inserted upright, diagonally, long, or short, will show extraordinary charm and can calmly elevate from natural beauty to artistic beauty, so some experts praise it as the “universal master” in the field of flower arrangement.