Gladiolus

Garden Gladiolus, Common Gladiolus

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Receptivity—the power to receive the Divine Force and to feel its presence and the presence of the Mother in it and allow it to work, guiding one's sight and will and action.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - II: The Divine Force in Work

Varieties

Message of the Flower

Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

Conscious of the Divine Will and surrendered to it.

Colour

White and shades of yellow, red, pink, lavender, and purple

Message of the Flower

Psychic Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

The psychic responds joyfully to the ascending force.

Colour

Pink or rose-pink

Message of the Flower

Receptivity of the Supramentalised Psychic

The Mother’s Comment

This is what happens to the psychic that continues to progress.

Colour

Bicoloured, pink, orange

Message of the Flower

Mental Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

Always ready to learn.

Colour

Yellow

Message of the Flower

Emotional Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

Emotions wanting to be Divinised.

Colour

Lavender-pink or mauve

Message of the Flower

Vital Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

Happens only when the vital understands that it must be transformed. The vital blossoms in aspiration for the divine.

Colour

Dark red or deep violet

Message of the Flower

Physical Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

One should have it only towards the Divine.

Colour

Bright red

Message of the Flower

Integral Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

The whole being perceives the Divine Will and obeys it.

Colour

White

Message of the Flower

Manifold Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

Nothing resists the Light.

Colour

Multicoloured

Message of the Flower

Supramentalised Receptivity

The Mother’s Comment

The receptivity of tomorrow.

Colour

Orange

Family

Iridaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Black Star', 'Blue Isle', 'Green Star', and many others with a wide range of colors.

Flower Size

Flowers can be up to 6 inches across on spikes that can reach several feet in height.

Flower Texture

Smooth and sometimes slightly ruffled.

Number of Petals

Each flower has 6 petal-like tepals.

Floral Symmetry

Bilaterally symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Some cultivars are fragrant, while others have little to no scent.

Leaf Texture

Smooth, with a sheen.

Leaf Arrangement

Sword-shaped leaves in a fan-like pattern.

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial.

Life Cycle

Perennial in zones 7-11; often grown as an annual in cooler climates.

Blooming Period

Summer to early fall.

Climate

Best in temperate to subtropical climates.

Water Requirements

Moderate, requires well-drained soil and regular watering during growth and bloom periods.

Soil Type

Prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Temperature Ranges

Thrives in temperatures between 60F and 80F (15C to 27C).

Sun or Shade

Full sun is preferred for best blooms.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to thrips, fungal rot, and viruses.

Pollinators

Attracted by bees and butterflies.

Habitat

Cultivated in gardens; not found in the wild as it is a hybrid.

Role in the Ecosystem

Primarily ornamental; provides nectar for some pollinators.

Ornamental

Widely used in gardens for vertical accent and in cut flower arrangements.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Primarily ornamental.

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated.