Peacock Orchid plant profile
Gladiolus murielae
A perennial flower for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Peacock Orchid
Plant peacock orchid corms in late spring; they can go in a week or two before the last frost, but because they prefer warm soil planting is best delayed until soil temperatures are above 50 F (University of Wisconsin). Hardy only to about 10 F (zones 7 to 11); in colder climates dig the corms after frost kills the foliage and overwinter them indoors like gladiolus.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Peacock Orchid in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Planting depth
- 2 in
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 4 to 6 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 7a to 11bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: bulb rot, failure to bloom.
Next steps
Continue with Peacock Orchid
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Peacock Orchid, Gladiolus murielae (=Acidanthera bicolor)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Gladiola (Gladiolus species) entry
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Supports pet-safety verdicts for dogs and cats. Checked 2026-07-18.