Tina Gladiolus

Tina is a gladiolus with a softer side. Each ruffled floret opens a cool lavender-mauve, then draws the eye inward to a striking deep purple and wine-red throat. The effect is gentle from a distance and surprisingly rich up close, giving every spike a sense of depth that plain single-color glads can't match.

Part of the Glamini series, Tina offers all the vertical drama of a classic gladiolus on a more compact, sturdy frame, topping out around 2 to 3 feet. That tidier stature means strong stems that hold their own without fuss, and it opens up spots where full-size glads would feel out of scale: the middle of a mixed border, a sunny patio container, or tucked among silvery foliage and summer-blooming perennials where its cool tones really sing.

Like any glad, Tina is made for cutting. The florets open steadily from the bottom of the spike to the top, so a single stem stays fresh and changing in the vase for days. Pair it with pale pinks and whites for a soft, cottage-style bouquet, or let it stand alone in a tall vessel. If you've always loved gladiolus but wanted something a little more graceful and easier to place, Tina is a lovely place to start.