Said to have had a secret meaning in the Victorian era, this flower was given to symbolize "love at first sight" and secret passion. It has large thick stems, usually with 6 8 tightly packed blossoms on one side.

If you're looking for a dramatic, meaningful flower to include in your garden this year, or to send to a loved one, the Gladiolus is an exotic choice. Meanings and Colors Flowers come in all shapes and sizes and the Gladiolus is a fine example of this. Representing strength of character and gracefulness, this blossom also represents the 40th Wedding Anniversary.

This beautifully simple flower was also called "xiphim" from the Ancient Greek word xiphos meaning sword. Parts of the Gladiolus are poisonous if ingested; nevertheless, this extremely fragrant member of the Iris family was still used for medicinal purposes once upon a time.

August's birth flower was named for its sword shaped leaves; the name Gladiolus, is Latin for "sword".

They come in a variety of colors some that are native to the species and some that have been cultivated over the years pink, yellow, red, purple, white and orange.