Peacock Orchids Gladiolus acidanthera,

By Kim Willis These articles are copyrighted and may not be copied or used without the permission of the author.

Peacock orchids, Gladiolus acidanthera, or Gladiolus callianthus, (one of those plants whose name has been changed and is sold under both Latin names) are one of the many “minor” bulbs gardeners often overlook. But peacock orchids deserve more attention and should be planted more often.  They can bring a touch of the exotic and make your garden unique.

As the Latin name suggests Peacock orchids are related to gladiolus and the leaves are very similar.  They are long and sword-like and plants grow to be about 2 feet high.  They have a corm “root” system like the common glad. 

The flowers of Peacock orchids may remind you of an orchid.  The beautiful flowers have six white petals, with a purple star in the center.  A spike of flowers appears mid-summer and the flowers have a pleasing fragrance, which is stronger at night. The flowers are “nodders”, facing slightly downward.

Like glads the flowers begin opening at the bottom of the spike and continue opening for many days, moving up the stalk.  Both hummingbirds and bees are attracted to them.  Although I haven’t seen any reference to this or observed it, because the flowers are white and fragrant I suspect they may be attractive to night flying moths and maybe that is what pollinates them in their native habitat.

The Peacock orchid or Abyssinian glad as they are sometimes called is native to South America. They are hardy to zone 8, sometimes zone 7 if heavily mulched. Gardeners in colder zones can use them as annuals as the corms are inexpensive, or they can dig up the bulbs and store them over winter.

I like to pot the smaller, tender bulbs in one gallon pots.  The pots can be situated anywhere in the sunny garden or in an out of the way sunny spot and brought onto the patio or deck when they come into bloom.  After frost kills the leaves I bring the whole pot inside for winter, into cool storage.  In spring I begin watering them and let them get a head start on a sunny windowsill.  They go back outside after danger of frost has passed.  Every other year I re-pot the corms, removing some to prevent overcrowding as they will multiply.

Showing foliage

Peacock orchids are generally purchased as corms in the spring and planted outside after danger of frost has passed.  They need full sun and well-drained soil.  Plant about 8 corms per square foot for a good display or about 6 corms in a gallon pot.  Plant about 2 inches deep.  Peacock orchids need regular watering and for best blooming use a slow release granular fertilizer for blooming plants once or twice a season as the label directs.  In zone 8 and above they will go dormant in colder weather and return in the spring.

Peacock orchids are seldom bothered by pests or disease.  Deer and rabbits usually avoid them.  They can be used as accent plants when in bloom or planted in pollinator gardens or in the middle of sunny borders for late summer bloom.  They make good cut flowers too.

Peacock orchids are pleasing little things with their beauty and fragrance.  Gardeners should at least give them a try one year.