Gladiolus ‘Starstruck’ is a striking gladiolus cultivar known for its dramatic spikes of richly colored blooms. Each tall, erect stem carries multiple trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of deep fuchsia to magenta with subtle darker accents, creating a bold, eye-catching display in the garden. The sword-like leaves form a neat vertical backdrop, emphasizing the height and elegance of the flower spikes. Ideal for cut flower arrangements, borders, or mass plantings, ‘Starstruck’ adds a tropical flair to summer gardens with its vibrant, showy presence.
- Size: Height: 90–120 cm (3–4 ft). Spread: 25–35 cm (10–14 in)
- Flowering: Mid to late summer
- Growth habit: Upright clumping perennial from corms
- Light: Full sun for best flower production.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter; avoid heavy clay or soggy areas.
- Water: Moderate to regular watering; keep soil moist during active growth and flowering.
- Hardiness: Hardy in Zones 7–10; in colder climates like Regina, SK, corms should be lifted and stored over winter.
- Planting depth: Plant corms 7–10 cm (3–4 in) deep, spacing 15–20 cm apart.
- Maintenance: Remove spent flowers to encourage continued blooming; allow foliage to die back naturally to nourish the corms.
- Propagation: By corm division or offsets after flowering.
- Support: Tall spikes may require staking in windy sites.