Content
Among the plants that are used in landscape design, there are many varieties. Some flowers serve as a frame for more expressive representatives. And some are just such representatives. Our article is about beautiful gladioli, which are rightfully considered royal flowers.
Number of modern varieties of gladioliused in landscape design, there are more than 200 items. However, designers are not always happy to include this flower in their compositions. Its royalty simultaneously serves as a decoration for the site, but also as an obstacle to widespread use. The main nuance is commensurability. In single plantings, gladiolus loses its majesty, and if the group is too large, the composition becomes chaotic. Therefore, only a correctly maintained proportion of components will decorate the site.
What is the best way to use gladiolus in landscape design? It is believed that gladioli are grown for cutting. Chic bouquets are present at all holidays and significant events.But even in the landscape design of the site, you can create unique combinations using gladiolus (skewer).
A duet of gladioli with dahlias or phlox looks great in landscape design. When making combinations, take into account the color of the flowers and the size of the stems.
Which types to choose
Gladioli belong to the perennials of the iris family. This is a corm plant with an erect stem and luxurious flowers. They are located in a variety of ways:
- spiral;
- one-sided;
- spicate;
- double-sided
The shape of the petals can be simple or corrugated, and the flowering varies in the number of tones in one variety. Flower sizes can also be classified:
- small – up to 7 cm;
- small-flowered – up to 10 cm;
- medium-flowered – up to 12 cm;
- large-flowered - up to 15 cm;
- giant - over 17 cm.
Swordfish propagates vegetatively and by seeds. In flower beds landscape design compositions bulbs are planted. Some adult specimens reach sizes up to 170 cm in height, which allows the flower to take a dominant position in the project.
How best to place it on the site
From experience, many designers know that gladioli should be classified as rather capricious flowers. They require constant attention and proper care. But if at least once you try to create a gladularium on your site (that’s what gladioli flower beds are called), then no difficulties will stop you in the future. And these flowers will settle on your site forever. Choosing new varieties for planting is not at all difficult.
Gladioli for use in landscape design can be ordered from the photo. Creating gladularia with the selection of varieties is quite a labor-intensive task, but the result is worth all the effort. The main condition that will have to be met is commensurability. Do not overdo it with the number and variety of shades, otherwise gladioli in landscape design will resemble an exhibition pavilion. But even a small number of flowers will simply be lost.
Recommendations from designers for the design of gladularia:
- Take into account the short-term flowering period of the sword. To make flower beds pleasing to the eye all season long, it is necessary to frame gladioli in landscape design projects. Bulbs of different flowering periods combine well. For example, for spring flowering, select original varieties of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. In the summer, let irises and peonies bloom in place of the gladularia, and then the time for gladioli will come. We will have to again combine gladioli with different flowering periods in the landscape design. In this case, the majesty of gladularia will continue until the autumn representatives - chrysanthemums, hydrangeas or asters.
- Try to maintain height proportions in your landscape design. Do not plant tall flowers, such as dahlias, next to the fennel. Visually, they will shift attention, and the composition will seem mixed.
- For group planting, 10-15 plants of the same variety are sufficient. Gladioli in landscape design look good in a group. Be sure to take into account the color combination of neighboring plants in order to maintain a harmonious transition of shades. The flashy variety of bright colors is tiring.
- If gladularia is located in the foreground, try to make the background uniform in structure and color of the plants.Combinations with conifers, ornamental shrubs, and evergreens are excellent.
- To make digging up bulbs easier, place plants in the landscape design of the area next to annuals. This way, you can easily remove the bulb for storage without damaging the roots of neighboring flowers.
- Be sure to use low-growing species in landscape design. They do an excellent job as border plants for lawns and paths. You can play with smooth transitions of shades or plant gladioli densely with alternating contrasting colors. To ensure that the frame of gladioli does not lose its attractiveness in the autumn, add a decorative fence or designer supports. They will help preserve the splendor of heavy inflorescences.
- Do not try to combine small-flowered and large-flowered varieties of gladioli side by side. Larger inflorescences will distract attention from small ones, which will lose their attractiveness.
What other plants are combined with gladioli in landscape design? Of the tall ones, you should pay attention to ageratums, zinnias, phloxes, asters, lavateria, dimorphotheca, low-growing tobacco. If you still decide to plant perennials, then it is good to take oregano, solidago, rue or sage. Don't forget the hosta, low-growing daylilies are a great option for decorating the area around the gazebo. It all depends on the style of your landscaping project.
When decorating a ceremonial mixborder in landscape design, a sword is used in combination with stones, conifers, and low-growing junipers. Gladioli are planted in containers and landscape rockeries. To veil the lower part of the trunk, small pebbles, gravel, and multi-colored shells work well.For small types of skewer in landscape design, the “second floor” view is often used. Tall plants or the same gladioli, but taller species, are planted.
It should be taken into account that the planting site will have to be changed annually. If there is a lack of planting material, the bulb is cut so that each part has a bud.
The main representatives of the beautiful flower
Skewer (gladiolus) is divided into two varieties - hybrid and wild. Hybrid gladioli are used in professional landscape design. The second category is common in the wild. Although all decorative and hybrid varieties were bred by breeders based on wild ones. Some types of beautiful gladioli:
Bolotny
Looks good when decorating rock gardens, near bodies of water. Reaches a height of 60 cm, the color of the flowers is dark purple, the arrangement is one-sided, the number of flowers is 8 pieces per stem. In nature, it is found in swampy meadows, which is where it gets its name.
Byzantine
It also has a one-sided arrangement of inflorescences and a stem height of 60 cm, but there are fewer flowers - up to 5 pieces. The color of the petals is a wonderful crimson shade with a white stripe in the middle. Summer flowering period. In nature it grows on the edges of the forest.
Kochi
The plant is of medium height - up to 65 cm. The inflorescences are small, located one-sided, the color is dark purple-violet. The number of flowers on the stem is 8 pieces. Found in mountainous areas in alpine meadows.
Sowing
Beautiful gladiolus for landscape design. Stem height 80 cm, double-sided loose inflorescence of amazing shades from pink to purple. There is a white stripe in the middle of the petal.The number of flowers on a stem reaches 10 pieces. Summer flowering period.
imbricated
It has a large number of flowers on the stem - up to 14 pieces in a one-sided arrangement. The inflorescence is dense and beautiful. Plant height 80 cm, found in dry meadows. Blooms at the beginning of summer.
Conclusion
Despite all the capriciousness and demanding nature of gladioli, these flowers are always present in landscape design. No plant can replace their charm and sophisticated beauty.
Gladioli combine well with other species, but can also create a unique composition on their own.
Useful video:
