Gladiolus is the largest genus in the Iridaceae family with around 255 species. They are perennial bulbous flowering plants, sometimes called Sword lilies, but usually by its generic name, Gladiolus. It has been studied by taxonomists and now includes the genera Acidanthera, Homoglossum, Anomalesia and Oenostachys. The geographic range includes Africa, Madagascar, Europe, and the Middle East. They are treasured the world over for their beautiful, showy flowers which grow on tall spikes. These plants are often planted in cut flower gardens or in the back along the border, as they grow 60cm to 1.8 m tall. They make excellent cut flowers and are easily grown in raised garden beds and rockeries. Most Gladioli do equally well in pots. Gladioli are the flowers associated with a fortieth wedding anniversary.

Gladiolus aquamontanus is an indigenous plant from the winter rainfall area of South Africa. It is also a South African endemic plant that only occurs naturally in the Western Cape on streams and wet cliffs in the Swartberg Mountains. It grows from 40 to 100 cm and has sword-shaped leaves with lightly thickened margins and midribs. The leaves are arranged in a fan. Gladiolus aquamontanus blooms from spring to summer and bears unscented mauve to pink flowers that are arranged in a 4 to 8 flowered spike. The lower three tepals have a dark purple median streak in the lower two thirds.