Growing 2 to 3 feet tall, with narrow, sword-shaped leaves, orchid gladiolus bear flower spikes with two to 10 flowers apiece. Each flower is star-shaped, with six petals fused into a long tube at the base. Each white, fragrant blossom has a maroon star in the middle.
The corms should be planted 2 to 6 inches deep, depending on the size of the corm (the larger the corm, the deeper the planting hole). For best results, lift and store the corms in the fall after foliage has begun to yellow but before the first frost.
Native to the mountains of East Africa, Gladiolus murielae is pollinated by the hummingbird hawkmoth, an insect that looks like a small bird. The flower's fragrance makes the gladiolus a perfect addition to areas where garden visitors will congregate.