GLADIOLUS CLASSIFICATION 
In our alphabetical listing of varieties, the number following the variety and 
originator’s name and date refers to size and color classification. Taking for example 
the variety RED WING (Wright ’48) 436 (M), the variety name is followed by the 
name of the originator and date of introduction. The number 436 denotes that Red 
Wing is of large size (4), and that its color is scarlet (36), as explained in the table 
below. The letter (M) informs us that it is a Midseason bloomer. (Abbreviations used 
are: WE for very early; E, early; EM, early-midseason; M, midseason; ML, late-mid- 
season; and L, late). 
SIZE CLASSES: Miniature (100 series), florets smaller than 214 inches. 
Small (200 series), florets 2144 to 314 inches. 
Medium (300 series), florets 338 to 43 inches. 
Large (400 series), florets 414 to 53 inches. 
Giant (500 series), florets 514 inches and larger. 
COLOR CLASSES: 
00—W hite 52—Deep Red 
06—Cream 54——Black Red 
10—Light Yellow 60—Light Rose 
12—Deep Yellow 62—-Medium Rose 
16—Buff 64—Deep Rose 
20—Light Orange 66—Light Lavender 
22—Deep Orange 68—Deep Lavender 
24—Red-Orange 70—Purple 
30—Light Salmon 76—-Light Blue-Violet 
32—Deep Salmon 78—Dark Blue-Violet 
36—Scarlet 80—Smoky shades (often subdivided: 
40—Light Pink 82 orange-smoky, 83 salmon-smoky, 
42—Medium Pink 84 pink-smoky, 85 red-smoky, and 
44——Deep Pink 86 lavender-smoky ) 
50—Light Red 90—Any Other Color 
An odd number as the last digit denotes a conspicuous marking. Thus White Goddess 
(500) is a white without markings, while Crusader (301) is a blotched white. Columbia 
(407) also has prominent markings, but on the edges of the petals rather than in the 
GLAD GROWING HINTS 
PLANTING AND CULTIVATING: Plant only clean healthy bulbs of good 
varieties. Plant in April, May or early June in most localities, about 4 or 5 inches 
deep and at least that far apart in the row. Cultivate only enough to keep down the 
weeds, but from the time the plants are 8 or 10 inches high until they bloom, give 
them plenty of water. A good soaking once or twice a week is much ketter than more 
frequent shallow sprinkling. 
DIGGING AND STORAGE: About 5 or 6 weeks after they have bloomed, the 
bulbs will be ready to dig. Cut off the stems close to the bulbs at once, and keep the 
bulbs in a warm dry place with good air circulation for a few weeks, after which the 
old bulb and roots can be easily pulled off the bottom. Store bulbs for the winter in a 
fairly cool dry place; a temperature of from 40 to 55 degrees is ideal. 
THRIPS: This very small insect can cause a lot of damage to gladiolus flowers if 
not held in check. If glads fail to open up properly, or appear “blasted” or disfigured 
with white marks, thrips are usually to blame. Spraying or dusting the plants every 
10 days or so during the growing season will take care of the thrips problem. Use 
5% or 10% DDT for dusting; 50% wettable DDT for spraying. A light sprinkling 
of DDT dust on the bulbs during winter storage will take care of any possible 
thrips on the bulbs. 
