Mad About Glads! Tips for Arranging and Caring for Cut Gladioli

According to Rene van Rems, Dutch-born and California-based floral designer and spokesperson for the Lily Occasions campaign, gladiolus come primarily from South Africa but are also native to the Canary Islands, England and Turkey.

"In the world of flower design there are four categories: mass, filler, form and line flowers," van Rems says. "Gladioli are line flowers—long and skinny with movement. Curly willow, pussy willow and cattails fall into this category as well."

While still in the ground, every flower on the gladiolus will bloom. "The bottom flower is always the largest and brightest on the stem, with another nine to 15 flowers above it," van Rems says. "Most 'glads,' as they are referred to in the trade, open to one side rather than all the way around the stem."

For a modern arrangement, van Rems suggests using gladioli with curly willow but no other flowers. "This way the full impact of the color comes forward," he says.